Awhile ago, Terry asserted that there was an "epidemic" of shoulder injuries among young USS swimmers, which he asserted were all due to stroke defects. Is he right?
Lately, I've been polling parents of 12-15 year old girls and I have learned that they all seem to have nagging injuries, particularly shoulder problems: Tendonitis, scapular pain, knee pain, etc. From what I know about the practice schedules, I don't think the injuries are due to overtraining, although some put in yardage or have some pretty hard practices. None of the girls I know do doubles. They all appear to be in puberty, and perhaps the changes in their bodies account for some of this pain. I'm sure some of it is due to bad technique too. I see a lot of lack of sufficient rotation on freestyle for example. But it's very annoying. Everyone is in PT or pain. I worry that some of these girls, including my own, will quit because they are tired of battling pain.
Another thought. Elsewhere I read that one program started their girls on RC stuff beginning at age 10 and kids doing these exercises have had fewer shoulder problems. Should this be started at a young age? I know my kid is doing them.
I have also heard of this problem mainly among girls. I don't know boys with shoulder problems. But that is likely due to the fact that I know more girls because I have a girl.
Thoughts?
Parents
Former Member
I don't know any programs where 11 years olds do weights. That would give me pause. But I know my 12 year old does some drylands. A lot of it is scapular/core stuff though. But I was under the impression that some elite girls start lifting at 14-15.
Eleven seems really young! I did dryland exercises -- crunches, running, pushups, stretchcords, etc. -- throughout middle school, and at 14 I started lifting weights with the other girls. (And I was far, far from elite.) Our coach didn't let the boys near the weight room until they were at least 16, I think. I'm 25 now, so that was 10-15 years ago. (My, how time flies!)
I've learned to be really careful with increasing yardage, as my left shoulder starts to bug me if I step it up too quickly. I've been working on technique, and I definitely need to start doing those rotator cuff exercises. I fear this may catch up to me in a few years.
I don't know any programs where 11 years olds do weights. That would give me pause. But I know my 12 year old does some drylands. A lot of it is scapular/core stuff though. But I was under the impression that some elite girls start lifting at 14-15.
Eleven seems really young! I did dryland exercises -- crunches, running, pushups, stretchcords, etc. -- throughout middle school, and at 14 I started lifting weights with the other girls. (And I was far, far from elite.) Our coach didn't let the boys near the weight room until they were at least 16, I think. I'm 25 now, so that was 10-15 years ago. (My, how time flies!)
I've learned to be really careful with increasing yardage, as my left shoulder starts to bug me if I step it up too quickly. I've been working on technique, and I definitely need to start doing those rotator cuff exercises. I fear this may catch up to me in a few years.
