Are shoulder injuries caused solely by improper stroke mechanics? Can we avoid all pain using perfect technique? Can we throw away the ice pack forever? Or can shoulder pain be caused by other factors as well? Vote if you have an opinion.
Apparently we agree that anatomical factors are important contributors to the development of swimmer's shoulder/shoulder impingement. Sorry for the misunderstanding.:hug:
I might faint. I do believe Gull is kissing Terry. :woot: Hurray for the importance of anatomical factors. Now I would like to trade mine with someone else.
...to ice regularly you should "STOP" doing the activity altogether. ... Is this really true? What's true is that if something hurts you to the point that you need ice on a regular basis, then you need to "STOP" repeating the suspisious movement.
Doesn't matter if it's a technical flaw or just a simple characteristic of your stroke, that needs to "STOP" really fast.
Orelse, you're just training a chronical injury. And like anything else, the more you train them, the better they become at making your life hard.
Funny because after all those years, I feel "disconnected" enough to issue a confession. I have never ever prescribed ice to injured athetes. Not that I was against it, I just didn't use it myself and have never developed the reflex of prescribing it.
Thanks for your responses to my questions everyone. I intend to incorporate as much of this advice as I can into what I'm doing. The shoulder pain flared up much worse yesterday and today so I'm off to my doctor. If I wind up seeing an ortho I'll ask their opinion on the anatomy/technique/conditioning/overuse aspects of the discussion. It seems likely to me that (in my newbie wisdom) all of these things are important contributing factors, with each aspect influencing the others in a not-simple way. For instance, I'm sure my technique is far from perfect while at the same time I don't have years of swimming conditioning, and my low shoulder flexibility must influence how I'm stroking as well.
I think it's just as likely, as you said, that I "tired out the stabilizing muscles."
Which raises the question: if one's problems are caused by the stabilizing muscles getting fatigued, does doing a lot of dryland exercise of these muscles help or hurt? Or perhaps is there a way to build up these muscles without causing further fatigue that might actually make things worse? It would definately seem to argue against doing dryland before swimming.
Don't sleep on your stomach. It twists the neck, which sends pain elsewhere.
Don't lean on your shoulders or sleep on your side.
Don't sleep with your elbow wrapped round your pillow.
Don't sleep with your elbow higher than your shoulder.
Now I know why my shoulder aches in the morning!!
It's not the swimming!
In the future ... late night TV infomercials will feature "Swimmer-Pedic" mattresses for us ... the kiosks at Nationals will include mattresses along with the swimsuits and T-shirts ... :)
My favorite fins are the big black rubber $20 ones but Coach is making me get the short fins (Hydros) for a "more natural" stroke. Not sure I want a more natural stroke - I want to go faster and just wiggle my feet :)
NK French:
I love your avatar too! I also want to know which of your 4 sets of fins are your favorite shoulder savers.;)
I looked on the internet yesterday on the sleep position issue because I have been curious about that as well. I didn't really see any studies, just anecdotal evidence and advice from PTs or docs. They said:
Don't sleep on your stomach. It twists the neck, which sends pain elsewhere.
Don't lean on your shoulders or sleep on your side.
Don't sleep with your elbow wrapped round your pillow.
Don't sleep with your elbow higher than your shoulder.
I think that leaves us sleeping on our back with our hands at our side.
Never sleep with your fins on...they get tangled in the duvet :rofl:
Sorry couldn't resist.
OK I don't know about shoulders but I have 3 herniated disc which can be a lot of fun to deal with. On back with a supported neck, lumbar region and possibly support under the knees is a great stress free and relaxed position...it it tough once you are alseep however, to determine what position you will wake up in...
Richjb: How can you sleep with that thing under your neck?
Donna just try it.
Step 1: Roll a sweartshirt under your neck, and forgo the pillow, put another under your back and the pillow under your knees.
Step 2: Get "Mr. Fortress" to wash dishes, deal with any kids, cats or dogs on the scene. Then have him massage your feet with lavender oil while he listens to you tell him about your day....
I guarantee a good night's sleep...:p
