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? If it is because their greatness is due to technique, they sure need to share. But I also wonder if it is because they swim smart, train smart, know their limitations and train accordingly. Do they listen to their bodies first and train second? Something many people don't do, me included in the past.
I've watched Laura Val (The Machine) and heard of Susan Heim Brown. I am amazed.
Is it also stroke related?. I know I swam only backstroke for 40 years and voila, 1993 rotator cuff surgery; 1995 impingement surgery; 1996 torn SI joint (sigh). And I learned technique very early on by world class coaches and swimmers; we did all the right things and were doing hip rotation back in the 60s before a lot of swimming folks were doing it.
Any thoughts on how this comes to be for some and not others?
Donna
Parents
Former Member
I think a long warm up is very important. Especially for sprint workouts.
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I am not so sure about that. If a person has loose joints, in this case the glenohumeral, extended periods of use will fatigue the cuff muscles which are supposed to keep things in alignment. Placing maximum load on this joint after the stabilizer muscles have been fatigued does not sound ideal to me. I keep my warmups as brief as possible. 9 times out of 10 I will swim about 500 yards before I begin anything paced or apply any real "effort" to my swimming, but never more than 700. From what I know about shoulder problems, most often the pain is caused by impingement of muscle or tendon. I think the best way to avoid this is with technique and avoidance of overuse which creates swelling/edema and impingement.
Anyhow, everybody is different and you should do what works best for you. I was just sharing the logic that I apply to my swimming.
I seem to recall having a heated debate about people swimming 1500 yard warmups around here a few years ago. I think Kirk was one of the long warmup gurus.
I think a long warm up is very important. Especially for sprint workouts.
.
I am not so sure about that. If a person has loose joints, in this case the glenohumeral, extended periods of use will fatigue the cuff muscles which are supposed to keep things in alignment. Placing maximum load on this joint after the stabilizer muscles have been fatigued does not sound ideal to me. I keep my warmups as brief as possible. 9 times out of 10 I will swim about 500 yards before I begin anything paced or apply any real "effort" to my swimming, but never more than 700. From what I know about shoulder problems, most often the pain is caused by impingement of muscle or tendon. I think the best way to avoid this is with technique and avoidance of overuse which creates swelling/edema and impingement.
Anyhow, everybody is different and you should do what works best for you. I was just sharing the logic that I apply to my swimming.
I seem to recall having a heated debate about people swimming 1500 yard warmups around here a few years ago. I think Kirk was one of the long warmup gurus.
