Hi everyone. I have been doing the interval based workouts posted on the workout section and really enjoying them. However, whenever I try to move up to a faster interval (and add more yards) my left shoulder gets very sore. Does any one have suggestions on how I can strengthen my shoulders to help handle more yards?
There isn't a master's team where I live, but the age group couch has "stroke clinics" for adults that I have been going to once a week to make sure I am using good technique and am not injuring myself with strokes.
Thanks in advance!
~Nicole
If your shoulders are bothering you, you definitely need to do some rotator cuff and scapular stabilizing exercises. I had the same problem when I started back two years ago. I still have grumpy shoulders, but found out from an arthrogram that I have a frayed labrum, mostly likely from overuse from age group training. The worst fraying or tearing is in the back of my labrum, or shoulder socket, so fly and free hurt me more. Could be, don't know, that your issue is in the front of your shoulder and that's why backstroke hurts more. Or you don't have those snazzy hyperextended elbows.
The exercises in the prior post are good. Check out posts #57 and 59 in forums.usms.org/showthread.php, which lists many threads on the origin and treatment of shoulder problems. In that same thread, toward the end, swimr4life gives some great advice on RC exercises too. Good luck. If the pain does not abate with the exercises, you may need to go see a good orthopod. If it comes to that, hopefully not, try to find one who knows something about swimming. My problem was misdiagnosed as tendonitis from the beginning. (I probably did have tendonitis, but that was not the chronic problem.) Good luck, Nicole! Welcome back!
If your shoulders are bothering you, you definitely need to do some rotator cuff and scapular stabilizing exercises. I had the same problem when I started back two years ago. I still have grumpy shoulders, but found out from an arthrogram that I have a frayed labrum, mostly likely from overuse from age group training. The worst fraying or tearing is in the back of my labrum, or shoulder socket, so fly and free hurt me more. Could be, don't know, that your issue is in the front of your shoulder and that's why backstroke hurts more. Or you don't have those snazzy hyperextended elbows.
The exercises in the prior post are good. Check out posts #57 and 59 in forums.usms.org/showthread.php, which lists many threads on the origin and treatment of shoulder problems. In that same thread, toward the end, swimr4life gives some great advice on RC exercises too. Good luck. If the pain does not abate with the exercises, you may need to go see a good orthopod. If it comes to that, hopefully not, try to find one who knows something about swimming. My problem was misdiagnosed as tendonitis from the beginning. (I probably did have tendonitis, but that was not the chronic problem.) Good luck, Nicole! Welcome back!
