Hello,
I have been taking swim lessons for about two months now. After twenty-one years of beating up my body running, I decided to give it a break by learning to swim. Well......
I now have pain in both achilles tendons. It is down low, on the back of my heels. I am still running, but only a fraction of the mileage I was doing before. I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out how my limited amount of running has caused this heel pain. It all started about two months ago. So, I have put 2 and 2 together ... it must be the swimming, but how?
I am using flippers. Could that be it?
Please help. I'm tired of aching all the time!
Thanks,
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
Extremely skinny people or those with a specific gravity such that they are "sinkers" will tend to sink legs, but that seems uncommon.
Getting the balance right - the "vessel" - should help you, and an occasional flutter kick - it's almost an unconscious movement - keeps the legs from sinking, and keeps you in a straight line.
I would ask Coach to go back to very basics, position in water. Sometimes holding a kickboard in front, arms extended, helps new swimmers/nonswimmers find a balanced, easy position in the water. TI drills are good, IMO: do over and over.
Achy pain in heels: try gentle stretches, in warm bath or if standing waiting for a bus, balance forward foot on edge of curb and stretch back of foot. On flat ground, elevate toes and forward foot. Maybe add an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen.
Good luck!
VB
Hi Cheryl,
Extremely skinny people or those with a specific gravity such that they are "sinkers" will tend to sink legs, but that seems uncommon.
Getting the balance right - the "vessel" - should help you, and an occasional flutter kick - it's almost an unconscious movement - keeps the legs from sinking, and keeps you in a straight line.
I would ask Coach to go back to very basics, position in water. Sometimes holding a kickboard in front, arms extended, helps new swimmers/nonswimmers find a balanced, easy position in the water. TI drills are good, IMO: do over and over.
Achy pain in heels: try gentle stretches, in warm bath or if standing waiting for a bus, balance forward foot on edge of curb and stretch back of foot. On flat ground, elevate toes and forward foot. Maybe add an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen.
Good luck!
VB
