I am a former high school and masters swimmer trying to get back in the water. I'm a breaststroker and never was much of a freestyler. I was always told "elbows high". My bad freestyle form has caught up with me. I'm going on 40 and the bad form just doesn't mix well with my aging body. Maybe I should have listened all those years ago-huh?
This summer I had a terrible case of tendonitis. I was in pain and had no idea why. I couldn't swim most of the summer. Thank God for a miracle cortisone shot! But, I still had to recover.
I'm ready to try again. I went to the pool today and did a 1650 in sets of 200's . Lots of kicking, and breastroke, mixed it up a lot. Trying to take it easy on the shoulder. Tonight, it's making the bad pop sound and a bit sore. I'm paranoid that it will flare up again.
I've been watching lots of u-tube technique videos. I know I need to keep my elbows higher and not dig in so much with my right arm. I'm overreaching as well. It's the right shoulder that hurts. Same stuff that I've been told to fix when I was a kid. I guess pain will make you listen.
I've also heard about breathing to the right instead of the left, I'm right handed. Does anyone think this helps? I try to breath bi-laterally when practicing.
It's so aggrivating. When you can't do something, you want to do it more than ever. I don't want to get the tendonitis again, it hurt so bad!
If anyone knows 1-2 excercises or tips to help with this I would appreciate it. I have a short attention span and can only hold onto a few bits of info. Looking for the most beneficial, simple, easy ideas.
Anyone had problems with this? Thanks, Lisa
Sounds like you have tendinitis and need to do rotator cuff exercises to strengthen up. If the pain continues to get worse, is affecting your sleep or your daytime activities, you should see a doctor and get some PT.
After about 3 months back in the pool last year after an 11 year hiatus, my shoulder decided to give out, and I had never had shoulder problems throughout my swimming career. But It took me a good 3 months of PT plus an additional 2-3 months of RT exercises to get back to where I'm pain-free. I stayed in the pool but did a lot more drills, breastroke, and swimming with fins to take the stress off my shoulder and cut back to swimming 5 instead of 6 days/week.
Also, try to figure out which part of your stroke is causing the most pain and have a coach watch your technique. You may be able to make some adjustments that reduce the irritation significantly. My own problem was with my catch - I was leading with my thumb and pointer rather than my pinkie. Felt weird to switch but it's made a big difference.
There's a bunch of other threads on this discussion board that discuss shoulder problems - you should try to scan through them.
Also, here's a good link to more info on the USA Swimming site.
www.usaswimming.org/.../V...700&ItemId=700
Good luck!
Sounds like you have tendinitis and need to do rotator cuff exercises to strengthen up. If the pain continues to get worse, is affecting your sleep or your daytime activities, you should see a doctor and get some PT.
After about 3 months back in the pool last year after an 11 year hiatus, my shoulder decided to give out, and I had never had shoulder problems throughout my swimming career. But It took me a good 3 months of PT plus an additional 2-3 months of RT exercises to get back to where I'm pain-free. I stayed in the pool but did a lot more drills, breastroke, and swimming with fins to take the stress off my shoulder and cut back to swimming 5 instead of 6 days/week.
Also, try to figure out which part of your stroke is causing the most pain and have a coach watch your technique. You may be able to make some adjustments that reduce the irritation significantly. My own problem was with my catch - I was leading with my thumb and pointer rather than my pinkie. Felt weird to switch but it's made a big difference.
There's a bunch of other threads on this discussion board that discuss shoulder problems - you should try to scan through them.
Also, here's a good link to more info on the USA Swimming site.
www.usaswimming.org/.../V...700&ItemId=700
Good luck!
