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
Former Member
REDare more rigid
If you do not use fins on a regular basis, watch that you don't "over-use" them when you first switch to using them. Over stretching the tendons in the foot and lower leg will leave you sore.
For blisters: use light socks. Kiefer sells a sock that is like bathing suit material.
Tell me about your lower back pain. I'm having major problems with that....I've had disc problems in the distant past, but my right gluteus maximus/low back/upper leg area have been aching badly. All I can think of was I got these new fins, and loved the feel of swimming with them, and didn't spend a lot of time breaking into them, but on the other hand was using them daily, but not a real long time either. ...Have stopped *** stroke for awhile, but still am swimming almost daily, as I don't want to lose the fitness level I've achieved....
I think fins make more use of the hamstring and gluteal muscles, at least that's what I feel when I use them. It's necessary to stretch the hamstrings afterwards. You also want to make sure you don't have a really wide kick when you use them, and I believe it's considered a bad idea to use them for *** stroke. It's probably best just to use them for drills, 5 or 10 minutes at most, and do the rest of your swimming without.
Well the old saying still goes if you ask me about fins. Very good in off season never during the swim season.
If you want a sore stomach and sore legs over use fins. If you want sore shoulders and sore arms use paddles.
Tell me about your lower back pain.
Anyhow, what have you noticed about back pain?
I think this question was directed to me. I had some very severe, almost disabling, back spasms after working out very intensively with Zoomers for several weeks. I had some occasional mild back pain before that (and I still have occasional back pain now, also less severe), so I can't say the Zoomers *caused* the pain. But I think they aggravated the problem.
As Ripple said, fins put strain on the gluteal and hamtring muscles and, at least indirectly, on the spinal muscles (that's what my doctor said). I was also told by a coach, that Zoomers put more of a strain than long fins because they're 1) more rigid and 2)shorter, so they don't give any propulsion back.
Btw just to reply to everyone's comments I was using the blue zoomers and I think going from 0 to 100% fins prob did not help anything. Also, interestingly since back pains are mentioned I actually notice some back pains if I kick too hard _without_ fins (I have some back probs from crew in college although they are definitely on or off depending on specific activity I am doing) but hadn't noticed them with the fins at all. I think my tempo is so much higher without the fins that has something to do with it (not sure, maybe I am using slightly different muscles too).
I use Zura Alpha fins...they are so flexible...you don't even get blisters and they hit the quads more on FR kick.
So did you have any problems with the Zoomers or did you just start out with the Zura Alphas?
Misha
I am confused. Is everyone using the Zoomers just on kick sets or is everyone actually swimming with the fins on.
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
I am confused. Is everyone using the Zoomers just on kick sets or is everyone actually swimming with the fins on. The Zoomers were designed to be used while swimming. I read all of the posts, fairly quickly, so I might have missed something. It has been my experience that Zoomers are to be used while swimming to enhance the feel for fast swimming. Yes, they will work the legs and elevate your training level, but according to the designer, Dr. Marty Hull, they are to be used while swimming. If you are using Zoomers just during kick sets, you are using them for the wrong thing and that is possibly why your knees hurt. Overuse. Try using them while you swim. Find out more at Zoomers.net
So did you have any problems with the Zoomers or did you just start out with the Zura Alphas?
Misha
I just had personal reccomendations from guy at the pool using alphas. I used zoomers once or twice but they hurt like hell.
I don't do things like blister pain, knee scrapes or elbow boo-boos! ;)
FWIW I suffer from backs spasms but swimming has kept me out of trouble with it for a while, and any issues I get are relatively minor. I've been using the alphas twice a week or more an have had no ill effects. I also use a monofin once a week and that isn't bothering me either.
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.
