I posted this same question on the workout section, so excuse the duplication, but I wanted to get the consensus of opinion from you swimmers on whether swimming is contradicted in cases of lumbar stenosis. The literature is a bit equivocal, and my own experience is conflicting, but it could also be that I'm just horendously out of shape (close to a decade of inactivity). So if anyone knows the answer to this question, please let me know. Thanks.
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To Rich aka SwimStud,
I'm not exactly sure what you are asking about the fly kick. For me the kick has always worked best when I could keep it in a relatively narrow range of amplitude and give equal emphasis to both the up and down stroke. Also, it is my kick rate that controls my arm stoke rate and not the other way around. I got into trouble with my back on the transition from my underwater kick to my first stroke. I think I allowed too much flexion trying to set up the breakout and wham, stopped in my tracks. This was probably a flaw anyway, so always concentrating on keeping the kick amplitude narrow is probably a good thing for me. I will say that when working on this with some other swimmers they can't generate the kind of tight snap in both directions that is required. That's what it feels like to me. Maybe it's just a sprinter physiology thing.
To Peter,
Thanks for your concern re my health. There is always that fine line between pushing it too hard or not hard enough. I tend to gravitate toward the former but I'm getting better at balancing the two. Staying injury free is always my number one swimming goal each year. I haven't always succeeded.
Will you be swimming at Nationals this year, seeing that it is in your neighborhood? If yes, let's get together for a post swim drink or whatever.
Rich
To Rich aka SwimStud,
I'm not exactly sure what you are asking about the fly kick. For me the kick has always worked best when I could keep it in a relatively narrow range of amplitude and give equal emphasis to both the up and down stroke. Also, it is my kick rate that controls my arm stoke rate and not the other way around. I got into trouble with my back on the transition from my underwater kick to my first stroke. I think I allowed too much flexion trying to set up the breakout and wham, stopped in my tracks. This was probably a flaw anyway, so always concentrating on keeping the kick amplitude narrow is probably a good thing for me. I will say that when working on this with some other swimmers they can't generate the kind of tight snap in both directions that is required. That's what it feels like to me. Maybe it's just a sprinter physiology thing.
To Peter,
Thanks for your concern re my health. There is always that fine line between pushing it too hard or not hard enough. I tend to gravitate toward the former but I'm getting better at balancing the two. Staying injury free is always my number one swimming goal each year. I haven't always succeeded.
Will you be swimming at Nationals this year, seeing that it is in your neighborhood? If yes, let's get together for a post swim drink or whatever.
Rich
