I did a quick search and saw a lot of threads on shoulders with a lot of responses, so if this has been discussed before,
smack (I mean FORGIVE) me,
or something.
But is it possible, and optimal, to swim all four strokes without internally rotating the shoulder joint?
As in sliding the hands in flat, always, rather than "pinkie out/pinkie in" for backstroke, or slightly angled hands (thumb first) for entry in fly (and I think even ever-so-slightly angled hands means slightly internally rotated shoulder joint, means ouch ouch ouch for me). Etc. (for free and ***, too, flat-handed entry, never internally rotating?)
Parents
Former Member
I hate to be the bearer of anatomic reality....
...but...
Pinky first, or thumb first, is not a direct measure of what your shoulder is doing. The position of your hand is determined by your forearm position at your elbow...that is, pronation or supination of the forearm.
Having said that, a pinky-first entry -- with the forearm in neutral position (neither overly pronated nor supinated) -- can allow for or encourage less internal rotation of the shoulder.
Better to think about the shoulder joint directly... and this is the ugly truth...
Shoulder internal rotation: high-elbow catch
Shoulder external rotation: dropped elbow or doggy paddle
If you goal is to avoid "shoulder internal rotation" swim with a dropped elbow.
Alternatively, if your goal is to avoid rotator cuff impingement that results in swimmers' shoulder, see a physical therapist with expertise in swimming rehab. Strengthening scapular stabilizers and rotator cuff muscles may prevent or cure swimmers' shoulder.
If you are having shoulder pain, changing from thumb-first to pinky-first entry really misses the point and is unlikely to be effective.
RadSwim
I hate to be the bearer of anatomic reality....
...but...
Pinky first, or thumb first, is not a direct measure of what your shoulder is doing. The position of your hand is determined by your forearm position at your elbow...that is, pronation or supination of the forearm.
Having said that, a pinky-first entry -- with the forearm in neutral position (neither overly pronated nor supinated) -- can allow for or encourage less internal rotation of the shoulder.
Better to think about the shoulder joint directly... and this is the ugly truth...
Shoulder internal rotation: high-elbow catch
Shoulder external rotation: dropped elbow or doggy paddle
If you goal is to avoid "shoulder internal rotation" swim with a dropped elbow.
Alternatively, if your goal is to avoid rotator cuff impingement that results in swimmers' shoulder, see a physical therapist with expertise in swimming rehab. Strengthening scapular stabilizers and rotator cuff muscles may prevent or cure swimmers' shoulder.
If you are having shoulder pain, changing from thumb-first to pinky-first entry really misses the point and is unlikely to be effective.
RadSwim
