I seem to have chronic low grade shoulder problems, but so far these have not forced me to stop swimming. I no longer do butterfly, and not much backstroke, either. I don't use paddles or kickboards. Otherwise, I just muddle through the discomforts, which are sometimes greater and sometimes lesser.
I have definitely become depressed over shoulder pains in the past, especially when the pain gets fairly significant and I fear it will eventually force me out of the water. Mood and pain are powerful reinforcers for one another. Exercise is one of the best ways for me to fix a bad mood. If I can't swim with an optimal level of effort because of shoulder pain, I put on zoomers and find I can still get my heart rate up high--if not higher--and this lets me stay in the pool and enjoy the camaraderie of my teammates.
I seem to have chronic low grade shoulder problems, but so far these have not forced me to stop swimming. I no longer do butterfly, and not much backstroke, either. I don't use paddles or kickboards. Otherwise, I just muddle through the discomforts, which are sometimes greater and sometimes lesser.
I have definitely become depressed over shoulder pains in the past, especially when the pain gets fairly significant and I fear it will eventually force me out of the water. Mood and pain are powerful reinforcers for one another. Exercise is one of the best ways for me to fix a bad mood. If I can't swim with an optimal level of effort because of shoulder pain, I put on zoomers and find I can still get my heart rate up high--if not higher--and this lets me stay in the pool and enjoy the camaraderie of my teammates.
