Here is something new (the document states 9/24/07) from the USA Swimming site by George T. Edelman, MPT, OCS, MTC: Shoulder Stretching: Helpful or Harmful? (Accompanying PowerPoint)
The conclusion is:
• Cognitive shift in stretching programs
• Stretching is athlete specific
• Shoulder stretches that target the glenohumeral joint capsule can be harmful to the swimmer and are strongly discouraged
• Stretches that target the muscle tissue and respect the musculo-tendon unit - encouraged
Naturally, according to George, I've been doing the exact wrong exercises. &^@#.
What do y'all think of this? Fort?
Mark
Parents
Former Member
I loosen up my shoulders then do slow arm circles, forward and backward.
This is what I've been doing for years.
25 years ago when I swam competitively (and our starts were the old style flat ones) I hurt my right RC on a cold start. I felt/heard something snap. It wasn't a race so even though my arms on entry where extended in a streamline position, they were loose and the left arm was kind of snapped up (back) almost like a whiplash effect. Hours later not even cortisone shots would relieve the pain. It took me some months to get back to normal.
However back then our coach's belief was not to stretch cold muscles at all. So I used to (and still) warm up those RCs like you Slowswim: Slow arm circles. However since I am a freestyler I start with the back circles (figuring that If I were to hurt any muscle sub-group warming up, it might as well be the "wrong" group) then continue this loosening warmup with forward circles.
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Former Member
I loosen up my shoulders then do slow arm circles, forward and backward.
This is what I've been doing for years.
25 years ago when I swam competitively (and our starts were the old style flat ones) I hurt my right RC on a cold start. I felt/heard something snap. It wasn't a race so even though my arms on entry where extended in a streamline position, they were loose and the left arm was kind of snapped up (back) almost like a whiplash effect. Hours later not even cortisone shots would relieve the pain. It took me some months to get back to normal.
However back then our coach's belief was not to stretch cold muscles at all. So I used to (and still) warm up those RCs like you Slowswim: Slow arm circles. However since I am a freestyler I start with the back circles (figuring that If I were to hurt any muscle sub-group warming up, it might as well be the "wrong" group) then continue this loosening warmup with forward circles.
