Swimming Uninjured..Is it possible?

I have been swimming for 50 years and have had 3 swim injuries. I know of some great, great swimmers who have been doing the same and remain untouched. How do they do this? Got me. I wish I knew the answer. There seem to be a lot of injured posters ... Some chronic. Others acute and fixed. It can't be all technique, although I'm sure it's a great help. I think ramping up very slowly 10% a week helps and listening to your body. I need to do this more. I always get carried away and then ... ouch.

I thought we went down this road before. (not too long ago) My recollection is that those that took the position that it was possible to swim and train without injury (by focusing on technique) were dismissed. No one would even consider that the fault of their injuries lied within themselves (but rather in the stars). I believe this is a different thread, Yoga Man. The prior dispute involved whether poor technique was the cause of most shoulder injuries. That dispute was "resolved." Kaizen's view and yours was not "dismissed;" it was outvoted in a poll by many, including some hoary masters swimmers more experienced than myself. Everyone agreed that technique was important. As to my own alleged star gazing, I recall that Kaizen dissed my fly technique sight unseen and potentially attributed my injury to it. I believe I had the audacity to comment that my technique was "reasonable," not perfect by any stretch, and that blandish statement was questioned by Kaizen and Lindsay. I also said my free could use work. It would be best, no doubt, to leave that topic and vote alone and move on. I think what Donna is getting at here, and she can correct me if I'm wrong (I'm sure she will), is what factors account for the incredible longevity of stars like her friend Laura Val. I think technique is critical for long term success. But are you so wrapped up in yoga poses, you can't credit other factors? Training? Mental stamina? Unique physiology? Lack of time constraints? Great coaching? Weights? Nutrition? Talent? Constant ART and massages? Ingestion of pinot noir? Abstinence? No TFs? Fins? Jolly good amusement from pool toys? Married to an orthopod? Anti-aging gene? Human growth hormone? Paul Smith as a coach? Geek as a training partner?

I have given up on, or limited my participation in many activities due to injuries and the potential for injury. It saddens me that many swimmers consider and/or have experienced b-fly to be one of them. It saddens me too. Believe me. I would love to do your sets. I can't right now. I did a bunch of race pace fly the other day and my shoulder is sore. So I'm saddened. But I am not star gazing. I'm going to ART tomorrow, just like you. It always makes me feel better. I'm trying to get my insurance to cover prolotherapy next. I'm not a giver upper, as I'm sure you can tell. I haven't given up running either just cuz of a couple little stress fractures. I have beautiful custom orthodics and my Mizunos. I have cut back my mileage though. No good for swimming. ;) Fly bugs some people. "Back crawl" bugs other people like Lindsay and GoodSmith. I guess it depends on the injury. Are you really flexible even though you're pretty muscular? What's your favorite yoga pose?

Is it possible to swim uninjured? Oh Lord, I hope so.....I have swam injury free in the past. For me the key was not ramping up my yardage too much too soon, doing rc exercises and...most important.... BEING CONSISTENT! Anytime I'm out of the water...let's face it, life gets in the way of swimming sometimes!...and I try to come back I have a tendency to overdo....I end up stressing my shoulder out and BAM....back to square one. This is where I am now. I swam with my masters team for the first time THIS YEAR today!:applaud: I just hope I don't get too eager and overdo. Stretching and rotator cuff exercises are very important too!

Bottom line - injuries happen. There are of course many, many factors that go into them. Technique probably is to blame some of the time, but overuse and bad luck seem to factor in as well. I think labrums tend to have more issues with backstroke and rotator cuffs with fly and free ... at least that is what I have found ...

I thought we went down this road before. (not too long ago) My recolection is that those that took the position that it was possible to swim and train without injury (by focusing on technique) were dismissed. No one would even consider that the fault of their injuries lied within themselves (but rather in the stars). So I will just say this...I am uninjured (that is not to say uncompromised). I train between 20 and 30k per week... a lot of it fly. Yoga, is my primary cross training and ART and Rolfing are my guilty pleasures. Had my right shoulder repaired 7 years ago (torn labrum, torn bicep tendon) from a jiu jitsu injury. I am conscious of this history with every stroke I take.

But are you so wrapped up in yoga poses, you can't credit other factors? Not at all... but I can't speak of them with athority. I have given up on, or limited my participation in many activities due to injuries and the potential for injury. It saddens me that many swimmers consider and/or have experienced b-fly to be one of them.

Had my right shoulder repaired 7 years ago (torn labrum, torn bicep tendon) from a jiu jitsu injury. I am conscious of this history with every stroke I take. Was that a chicken wing that went wrong Dave. That was the most excruciating technique to have the instructor put on us. I learnt to give 150% in jujitsu or be the demo dummy--ack. I had a bad landing right on my lower back which aggravated my issues in that area. It put paid to jusjitsu for me. I was flipped right over my partner's shoulders before being warm enough, and he didn't warn me he was going right over...I thought we were at walkthrough still. He then tried to guide my fall and made it worse. I didn't get my feet down. Thud! Good technique should avoid injury especially in swimming. However, folks can get unlucky or just have a slight physiological issue that can lead to an injury, IMHO. I would think though, excessive and forced yardage with sloppy technique WILL lead to injury. This doesnt mean all injuries are because of that. Not getting injured in 30yrs of swimming or anything means attention to technique, correct nutrition, mental health, correct stretching, avoiding unhelpful excercises and motions, limited physical labour, and a big dose of good fortune. Much can be avoided if you're careful..but sometimes even the best can have a bad day.

Are you really flexible even though you're pretty muscular? What's your favorite yoga pose? I have to work hard at it. My hips are not flexible. My left hamstring is really tight these days, my lower back has issues too. Favorite poses...scorpion and moonrise. I like the twisty stuff too. Most important pre-fly pose...down dog. I will not swim a single stroke of fly unless I have first stretched my back, arms, shoulder blades, neck.

Was that a chicken wing that went wrong Dave. I have never heard it called a chicken wing. Should have tapped sooner....lesson learned!