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
Paul, you hit the nail right on the head! I am very flexible in all of my joints. I can't help but believe that it helped me when I was younger but makes it difficult now. My shoulder doctor that did my surgery used to call me "loosey goosey" (don't start Rich! :lolup: )
because ALL of my joints were loose. I have also had knee problems in the past - put a halt to my triathaloning/running days. I have to be ever vigilant in doing my rotator cuff exercises. If I'm not..my shoulder/neck/back lets me know! Gosh they ARE BORING and I'm so sick of them but....it beats the heck out of not swimming and being in pain!
Me too twin. :shakeshead: All loosey goosey in the shoulders. :( Bad genes for the mid age set.
Except for the knees. Those are still intact apparently because I am not a breaststroker. Thank god for small favors.
Sometimes I do a long warm up. But other times not. I tend to do about 500 and then shift immediately into some drills and kicking before I get going. I agree with Matt -- too much overuse and engine building does not agree. I am actually more of a slacker than I'd like to be; I have to resist engine building and all my teammates love it. But it doesn't agree with me at all. I've said this before, but I am going to try prolotherapy soon, I hope. I've spoken with a lot of athletes and docs about it. It can really work in some instances to regrow nasty deteriorated, dessicated cartilege/muscle tissue.
Where is Dr. Gull when we need him?
Paul, you hit the nail right on the head! I am very flexible in all of my joints. I can't help but believe that it helped me when I was younger but makes it difficult now. My shoulder doctor that did my surgery used to call me "loosey goosey" (don't start Rich! :lolup: )
because ALL of my joints were loose. I have also had knee problems in the past - put a halt to my triathaloning/running days. I have to be ever vigilant in doing my rotator cuff exercises. If I'm not..my shoulder/neck/back lets me know! Gosh they ARE BORING and I'm so sick of them but....it beats the heck out of not swimming and being in pain!
Me too twin. :shakeshead: All loosey goosey in the shoulders. :( Bad genes for the mid age set.
Except for the knees. Those are still intact apparently because I am not a breaststroker. Thank god for small favors.
Sometimes I do a long warm up. But other times not. I tend to do about 500 and then shift immediately into some drills and kicking before I get going. I agree with Matt -- too much overuse and engine building does not agree. I am actually more of a slacker than I'd like to be; I have to resist engine building and all my teammates love it. But it doesn't agree with me at all. I've said this before, but I am going to try prolotherapy soon, I hope. I've spoken with a lot of athletes and docs about it. It can really work in some instances to regrow nasty deteriorated, dessicated cartilege/muscle tissue.
Where is Dr. Gull when we need him?
