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?
When I used to stretch religiously before practice I had sore shoulders. Which turned into sorer shoulders, and more stretching and tendonitis, and cortisone shots, and over a year off swimming, etc etc etc... Ok, no, I don't think stretching was to blame but I don't think it helped. Swimming puts all the tension and muscle development in very lopsided areas on your upper body (I think it was Gull that posted something about being unable to develop the muscles in a balanced manner through swimming alone.) And there I was, further stretching the areas that were already loose (shoulders via the classic pull across the chest and up&over stretches) and not helping the pec/whatever muscles on the front of the chest that were all tight and further pulling my back and shoulder outta whack (think how many swimmers have that hulking bent over shoulder look). Now all I'll do is a light triceps stretch in between sets and wall stretches for across the front of the chest. But it is all very very light stretching and I am well warmed up before I do it.
I don't do those pull across the chest or up & over stretches. Those seem directed at tendons not tight muscles. You've got to have muscular balance, for sure. But you'll still get tightness. I just worry about my trap and scapular area. That's where I feel like I need the stretching. Hopefully, stretching those parts won't hurt the shoulders.
I do some leg stretching too, mostly calves. They get tight from running and MF use. My son never stretches though. He used to and he quit. No injuries.
When I used to stretch religiously before practice I had sore shoulders. Which turned into sorer shoulders, and more stretching and tendonitis, and cortisone shots, and over a year off swimming, etc etc etc... Ok, no, I don't think stretching was to blame but I don't think it helped. Swimming puts all the tension and muscle development in very lopsided areas on your upper body (I think it was Gull that posted something about being unable to develop the muscles in a balanced manner through swimming alone.) And there I was, further stretching the areas that were already loose (shoulders via the classic pull across the chest and up&over stretches) and not helping the pec/whatever muscles on the front of the chest that were all tight and further pulling my back and shoulder outta whack (think how many swimmers have that hulking bent over shoulder look). Now all I'll do is a light triceps stretch in between sets and wall stretches for across the front of the chest. But it is all very very light stretching and I am well warmed up before I do it.
I don't do those pull across the chest or up & over stretches. Those seem directed at tendons not tight muscles. You've got to have muscular balance, for sure. But you'll still get tightness. I just worry about my trap and scapular area. That's where I feel like I need the stretching. Hopefully, stretching those parts won't hurt the shoulders.
I do some leg stretching too, mostly calves. They get tight from running and MF use. My son never stretches though. He used to and he quit. No injuries.
