Hello, fellow chlorine heads,
I coach a masters team out in Highland Park, IL (Equinox Masters), and one of my swimmers has some issues going on with her hip and back. :cane: Though it was a pre-existing condition prior to her becoming a swimmer, it seems to hurt on and off during and after our practices. Here's what she has to say about it:
"After swimming, I frequently feel intense lower back stiffness which is usually accompanied by a tightness/dull persistent pain in the periformis region/side of my right hip.
During swimming, I sometimes feel a twinge in my lower right back when turning to breathe."
Any input to help my swimmer would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Bill
Parents
Former Member
Shipley - I cannot provide info on the proper form however, I am a 31 y.o. and just started swimming BECAUSE I have lower back disc degeneration and right iliotibial (hip) stiffness. Doc told me no more running and no more elliptical for awhile - and therefore I am on day 5 of swimming. One of the things that seems to help me out during my day to day life is to properly stretch the iliotibial muscle and to perform various back stretches. See these two links for iliotibial and back stretches:
runningtimes.com/Article.aspxwww.bigbackpain.com/back_exercises.html
Now, I am certainly not a doctor but this does seem to help. There are a number of different stretches that can be found online and it will simply be trial and error. I would also recommend that the individual sees their primary care phys and potentially get evaluated earlier rather than later in order to potentially detect a current condition... they could also prescribe something called a "Tens Unit" which has 4 electrode-type pads that produces an electronic pulse into the muscle... it can be worn PRIOR/POST swim and will help to reduce pain and discomfort. I have been using one, and it provides some pain relief.
Shipley - I cannot provide info on the proper form however, I am a 31 y.o. and just started swimming BECAUSE I have lower back disc degeneration and right iliotibial (hip) stiffness. Doc told me no more running and no more elliptical for awhile - and therefore I am on day 5 of swimming. One of the things that seems to help me out during my day to day life is to properly stretch the iliotibial muscle and to perform various back stretches. See these two links for iliotibial and back stretches:
runningtimes.com/Article.aspxwww.bigbackpain.com/back_exercises.html
Now, I am certainly not a doctor but this does seem to help. There are a number of different stretches that can be found online and it will simply be trial and error. I would also recommend that the individual sees their primary care phys and potentially get evaluated earlier rather than later in order to potentially detect a current condition... they could also prescribe something called a "Tens Unit" which has 4 electrode-type pads that produces an electronic pulse into the muscle... it can be worn PRIOR/POST swim and will help to reduce pain and discomfort. I have been using one, and it provides some pain relief.
