Shoulder Stretching: Helpful or Harmful?

It was Coach Robert Kiphuth who convinced me that I should continue swimming after my disappointment after I was sick in 1952. When I go to Mexico I am going to do all of the exercises in his booklet and make a short video clip of each and post them. I think there were approx. 20. If any one has that booklet I would like a copy. They were on 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper. Stick figure drawings with explanation of how to do them. I think I know them all by memory and with a very slight variation they are still acceptable for all to do.

Simply a fantastic post. Thank you. I'm trying to download the powerpoint and present it to my colleagues. Thank you

I work at a computer all day long and do some of these stretches - or very similar ones - to offset the tight chest and front of shoulder muscles that result from cad drafting. My massage therapists have even recommended some of them. I'll have to rethink that advice now, perhaps I'll just try to figure out which muscles are opposing and strengthen them instead. When I was training for the Swimtrek tour, their training advice also advised against stretching before swimming.

Good Article. To me the most telling part is (see attached picture) which confirms George's affirmations all along. 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) Naturally, according to George, I've been doing the exact wrong exercises. &^@#.

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.

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. I had a similar experience at my first Masters meet four years ago. It happened during warmup. The MRI was negative, but I suspected a small tear of the labrum. My physical therapist incorporated scapular stabilization exercises into my home RC program. My understanding is that the muscles that stabilize the scapula (shoulder blade) need to be able to react almost instantaneously to sudden and changing forces (diving, butterfly, even catching a baseball) to prevent forward movement of the head of the humerus, which results in impingement and injury. The only "stretching" exercises I do are a few gentle arm circles before I get in the water. Interestingly, after four years of rehab I don't hear/feel popping and clicking anymore when I do this.

Do you think loosening up exercises are stretching exercises - I don't think they are if you do them correctley. I say most of those little things you and I had used for years are not stretching exercises. I eliminated the stretches from that photo copy we received from Kiphuth in the late 40s. There were a few that are considered dangerous for swimmers now. Especially the ones that said bounce the arms back twice.

Do you think loosening up exercises are stretching exercises I believe arm circles are considered a form of dynamic (as opposed to, say, static or ballistic) stretching.

I believe arm circles are considered a form of dynamic (as opposed to, say, static or ballistic) stretching. I view them more as a warm up. Much like a very very easy swim; just to get the blood flowing to the muscles and joints about to be used.