Hi I have had fairly bad case of biceps tendonitis for quite some time now and have not been able to swim. I have been doing kick sets every day for several weeks now, but realized that I wasn't _really_ doing the flutter kick in order to get more propulsion (otherwise I really don't move very much at all).
In any case, after reading these forums I decided to buy some Zoomers fins and started doing all my kicking with them for the past week. Initially I was quite happy with them (except blisters but I think I have solved that problem now). However, I have a concomitant knee problem (I went to an orthopod some time ago for it and he said by the physical exam it might be a medial meniscus issue - pain on the inside of my right knee - but since it was still relatively mild he was hesitant to do an MRI as surgery would not be something that would be considered at this point, which sounds reasonable to me) and I have noticed this week it has gotten worse (I did also stupidly sprint for my bus on Monday which I immediately felt caused some knee upset, and that certainly contributed a lot to it, but I'm still wondering about the Zoomers).
I know initially I did not feel the Zoomers aggravate my knee pain but now I'm not sure (although today I seem to have had more knee pain in general throughout the day so I'm not really sure if working out with them really added anything to it or if its just that my knee pain was still there when I was using them). In any case, I was wondering people's opinions about whether my increasing knee pain this week might be related to the Zoomers or perhaps simply to using them too much too soon? Anyone with knee problems noticed that Zoomers aggravate them? Are any other short fins better for knees or am I just stuck ineffectively kicking with no fins since I can't swim cuz of the shoulder probs?
Oh yeah I'm only doing flutter kick and I'm fairly sure I'm doing it correctly with the Zoomers (my legs are certainly straight and I am not kicking from the knees although I wonder if maybe I am locking them more than I should be perhaps).
Thanks
Misha
Parents
Former Member
I use my Zoomers for kick sets only. I can't imagine using them during stroke work. I think they'd just throw off my timing. When I swam with the Evanston Masters a bit last summer lots of people used them all the time, I think mostly so they could swim in a faster lane than their finless ability would warrant.
Regarding knee (or other) pain, I carry all my toys with me and make a decision when changing which toys to take to the pool deck. If my knees are sore, I will leave the Zoomers in my locker and do little, if any, breaststroke kick that workout.
Skip Montanaro
If you go to the Zoomers website, you will find that they were designed to be used while swimming. When using them, you will swim faster, thus creating the sensation of swimming fast. If you start out slow and begin using them while swimming a little bit at a time, you will find that they will benefit your stroke and overall speed in races. While swimming fast in workout a little more each time you will find your times dropping in the long run. Too much of workouts are spent swimming slow, which in return gives you slow swimming. Use the Zoomers to swim fast and you will find that you will be faster. Your overall workout will benefit from using them while you swim. They will increase your muscle movement, increasing your breathing and heartrate. Can they be used for kick sets, yes, is that what they were designed for, no. I believe that if you are using them just for kick sets you are risking soreness or injury in the joints of the leg. Just my two cents.
I use my Zoomers for kick sets only. I can't imagine using them during stroke work. I think they'd just throw off my timing. When I swam with the Evanston Masters a bit last summer lots of people used them all the time, I think mostly so they could swim in a faster lane than their finless ability would warrant.
Regarding knee (or other) pain, I carry all my toys with me and make a decision when changing which toys to take to the pool deck. If my knees are sore, I will leave the Zoomers in my locker and do little, if any, breaststroke kick that workout.
Skip Montanaro
If you go to the Zoomers website, you will find that they were designed to be used while swimming. When using them, you will swim faster, thus creating the sensation of swimming fast. If you start out slow and begin using them while swimming a little bit at a time, you will find that they will benefit your stroke and overall speed in races. While swimming fast in workout a little more each time you will find your times dropping in the long run. Too much of workouts are spent swimming slow, which in return gives you slow swimming. Use the Zoomers to swim fast and you will find that you will be faster. Your overall workout will benefit from using them while you swim. They will increase your muscle movement, increasing your breathing and heartrate. Can they be used for kick sets, yes, is that what they were designed for, no. I believe that if you are using them just for kick sets you are risking soreness or injury in the joints of the leg. Just my two cents.
