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
We've been talking around the issue of heavy yardage and excessive demands on young bodies quite a bit. I'm sure there is plenty of blame to go around.
But to bring up another issue, do our coaches have sufficient insight into shoulder injuries? I really hate to pick on them, because the coaches that I know I have enormous respect for. I doubt I'd ever have the courage to do their job.
Perhaps we could say that coaches are simply responding to pressure from overbearing parents (here's my nod to your other thread). But at some point someone should insist on excellent (if not perfect) technique, and maybe some RC exercises before the yardage goes up.
I think it is so hard to preach prevention to adolescents. Some may get it, but most are riding raging hormones. I would guess you just have to tell them what they can or cannot do while they are at practice, or have some more dynamic or interactive process other than a lecture.
We've been talking around the issue of heavy yardage and excessive demands on young bodies quite a bit. I'm sure there is plenty of blame to go around.
But to bring up another issue, do our coaches have sufficient insight into shoulder injuries? I really hate to pick on them, because the coaches that I know I have enormous respect for. I doubt I'd ever have the courage to do their job.
Perhaps we could say that coaches are simply responding to pressure from overbearing parents (here's my nod to your other thread). But at some point someone should insist on excellent (if not perfect) technique, and maybe some RC exercises before the yardage goes up.
I think it is so hard to preach prevention to adolescents. Some may get it, but most are riding raging hormones. I would guess you just have to tell them what they can or cannot do while they are at practice, or have some more dynamic or interactive process other than a lecture.
