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
When I was a kid swimming competitively we swam summer league, played soccer in the fall, basketball in winter, softball in spring. (Or some combo of other sports depending on the kid). When I was about 15 a lot of my summer swim mates started swim training year round and instead of us all swimming around the same times and trading off places, they really surpassed me. I just wasn't going to swim year round 'cause I liked all the other sports, too. I got sick of the competition part by age 17 'cause the fun was gone and for them it was all about winning, not comraderie and shared experiences with prizes as occasional treats, so that was my last summer competing.
There seems to be a lower and lower age where professional atheletes peak. Kids have to do so much to be competitive so early. Many sports are more and more physically demanding with more injuries. In Highland Dancing the kids are suffering all kinds of knee problems, bone and ligament issues and even torn achilles. Your highland dancing career is over by age 20 for most.
So anyway, I think we were doing a lot of cross training as kids before training for one sport year round came into vogue.
When I was a kid swimming competitively we swam summer league, played soccer in the fall, basketball in winter, softball in spring. (Or some combo of other sports depending on the kid). When I was about 15 a lot of my summer swim mates started swim training year round and instead of us all swimming around the same times and trading off places, they really surpassed me. I just wasn't going to swim year round 'cause I liked all the other sports, too. I got sick of the competition part by age 17 'cause the fun was gone and for them it was all about winning, not comraderie and shared experiences with prizes as occasional treats, so that was my last summer competing.
There seems to be a lower and lower age where professional atheletes peak. Kids have to do so much to be competitive so early. Many sports are more and more physically demanding with more injuries. In Highland Dancing the kids are suffering all kinds of knee problems, bone and ligament issues and even torn achilles. Your highland dancing career is over by age 20 for most.
So anyway, I think we were doing a lot of cross training as kids before training for one sport year round came into vogue.
