Hi, I've been swimming about 1km for about a year, one day I decided (I know I did wrong, and I regret it) to swim more, and when I had swam about 1,750 mts my elbow started to hurt, even when I took a shower. The pain disappeared in a couple of days, but when I do some elbow movements my elbow does like a "crack" sound, and hurts a little, but disappears after a while, it's happened in movements like:
.Jumping out of the pool
.Pushing someone
.Lifting weights over my head (for the triceps)
.Doing tecktonik movements (type of dance)
.And many more....
It's been like 10 months since that happened, but for the last 4 months I've taken care of myself, using the hot/cold technique, I've been lifting weights (increasing 250g each week), and increasing swimming distance (I swim 150 crawl, 50 breaststroke, 25-25 -holding a board at my arms, doing crawl and breaststroke kick) I started at 1km, and currently I am swimming 1.5 km, increasing 50 every 3 - 4 times I go swimming.
After I go swimming, my elbow hurts a bit (without movement sometimes) but the pain goes away.
I'd be so thankful if you guys could help me with this because it's been bothering me a lot, and I just wanna be able to do everything.
Thanks in advance.
Parents
Former Member
In my experience, total rest was not helpful for "golfer's" (or as I prefer to call it, "backstroker's") elbow. The stretching exercise pictured on that web page was and is, although I find it more comfortable to put my palm against a flat surface like a wall rather than to pull on it with my other hand. The strengthening exercises are also very helpful. You can do them with light weights, or with stretch cords. Finally, do not neglect ice. Ice the trouble spot after workout, even if it doesn't hurt right then.
If you work a lot at a computer, you might also examine your keyboard and mouse set-up to see if it is putting undue strain on your wrist flexors. Raising or lowering your desk relative to your arms, or switching mouse hands, might also give you some relief.
It's not "backstroker elbow" Silly, that just an excuse for people to use so that don't have to swim the glorious stroke.
On a serious note, you are right about the computer/mouse though. I have pain in my left forearm and hand. My forearm is due to carpel tunnel and the hand from early on set arthitis. I have been taking advil, along with the forearm stretch posted above, plus doing forearm curls to help strengthen the muscles.
The other thing I finally had to do is change how I swim freestyle. The high elbow recovery, with low hand caused me to have a lot of pain in the forearm and elbow. I had been playing around with a more straight arm recovery off and on for several months before hand. I finally made the switch a few weeks ago. Since changing, my elbow and forearm don't bother me at all.
I am not saying you need to switch, but tinkering with your stroke may help.
In my experience, total rest was not helpful for "golfer's" (or as I prefer to call it, "backstroker's") elbow. The stretching exercise pictured on that web page was and is, although I find it more comfortable to put my palm against a flat surface like a wall rather than to pull on it with my other hand. The strengthening exercises are also very helpful. You can do them with light weights, or with stretch cords. Finally, do not neglect ice. Ice the trouble spot after workout, even if it doesn't hurt right then.
If you work a lot at a computer, you might also examine your keyboard and mouse set-up to see if it is putting undue strain on your wrist flexors. Raising or lowering your desk relative to your arms, or switching mouse hands, might also give you some relief.
It's not "backstroker elbow" Silly, that just an excuse for people to use so that don't have to swim the glorious stroke.
On a serious note, you are right about the computer/mouse though. I have pain in my left forearm and hand. My forearm is due to carpel tunnel and the hand from early on set arthitis. I have been taking advil, along with the forearm stretch posted above, plus doing forearm curls to help strengthen the muscles.
The other thing I finally had to do is change how I swim freestyle. The high elbow recovery, with low hand caused me to have a lot of pain in the forearm and elbow. I had been playing around with a more straight arm recovery off and on for several months before hand. I finally made the switch a few weeks ago. Since changing, my elbow and forearm don't bother me at all.
I am not saying you need to switch, but tinkering with your stroke may help.
