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?
Tom:
Very good points. But I bet most coaches have had shoulder injuries/surgeries. Most coaches are former swimmers. Just speaking for my daughter's current coaches over the last couple years, I know 4 with major shoulder issues or surgeries. They are keenly aware of what swimming can do to shoulders. The lecture was just a season opener. They do some of the RC/scapular stuff at practice in drylands, remind their swimmers to do their exercises regularly. The team even has a PT swim expert that many go to. And they're always doing drills and stroke correction. Still, injuries happen.
As for dancing around the yardage question, this is a toughie, I think. The fact is, for girls, as you're heading into adolescence, if you want to be good, you have to up the yardage. I've heard 12 for girls is a "window" for cardio endurance training. Obviously, many swimmers aren't on an elite track or are just swimming for the sheer fun of it, which is fabulous. But for those that are "serious" (and remember Elizabeth Beisel was only 13 or 14 at worlds) or semi-serious, you have to swim some yardage. I see a lot of elite kids. They're slamming out 400 IMs like there's no tomorrow. No way is that minimal yardage.
Personally, I've tried to be very cautious, ramping up my own kid's yardage gradually and having her play other sports. She swam only 2x a week during the school year until she was 11. She only swims 5x a week now at 12. That's what I swam, easily. Her friends swim more. The key to sustaining the yardage, according to you and Gull and others, is to do the shoulder health exercises. I guess it's just internal motivation, but as you say, adolescents have other things on their mind. At the adolescent age, moreover, it's tough for parents to force their kids to do yardage. I don't think you can. They have to want to work hard themselves at that point. If they're working hard, trying to correct their strokes and still injured, that's flat out discouraging.
George:
Masters should all swim 500 and then stretch. But for kids, the warm up/ warm down thing just isn't as important. They should do it to build good habits though. Everyone should stretch. I should go stretch now.
Tom:
Very good points. But I bet most coaches have had shoulder injuries/surgeries. Most coaches are former swimmers. Just speaking for my daughter's current coaches over the last couple years, I know 4 with major shoulder issues or surgeries. They are keenly aware of what swimming can do to shoulders. The lecture was just a season opener. They do some of the RC/scapular stuff at practice in drylands, remind their swimmers to do their exercises regularly. The team even has a PT swim expert that many go to. And they're always doing drills and stroke correction. Still, injuries happen.
As for dancing around the yardage question, this is a toughie, I think. The fact is, for girls, as you're heading into adolescence, if you want to be good, you have to up the yardage. I've heard 12 for girls is a "window" for cardio endurance training. Obviously, many swimmers aren't on an elite track or are just swimming for the sheer fun of it, which is fabulous. But for those that are "serious" (and remember Elizabeth Beisel was only 13 or 14 at worlds) or semi-serious, you have to swim some yardage. I see a lot of elite kids. They're slamming out 400 IMs like there's no tomorrow. No way is that minimal yardage.
Personally, I've tried to be very cautious, ramping up my own kid's yardage gradually and having her play other sports. She swam only 2x a week during the school year until she was 11. She only swims 5x a week now at 12. That's what I swam, easily. Her friends swim more. The key to sustaining the yardage, according to you and Gull and others, is to do the shoulder health exercises. I guess it's just internal motivation, but as you say, adolescents have other things on their mind. At the adolescent age, moreover, it's tough for parents to force their kids to do yardage. I don't think you can. They have to want to work hard themselves at that point. If they're working hard, trying to correct their strokes and still injured, that's flat out discouraging.
George:
Masters should all swim 500 and then stretch. But for kids, the warm up/ warm down thing just isn't as important. They should do it to build good habits though. Everyone should stretch. I should go stretch now.
