Though my form still needs a lot of work, I am considering starting strength training in the near future, since I have read about how it can help swimming speed, form, etc.
However, I am still struggling with the idea of why strength training is needed. Lets assume that lifting a certain weight in a certain way improves a core muscle, which will help steady my posture (?).
Now assuming I don't weight lift, but instead try to hold the proper posture (high elbow, etc.) for a long period of time, and gradually increase the time I do that over weeks and months, won't those muscle(s) automatically improve?
It seems to me that intuitively the proper muscles would gradually get stronger in order to adjust to the frequent usage - that way the exact muscles I need would get stronger, instead of having to train a large array of muscles that have a relation to swimming.
What am I missing?
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Former Member
Absolutely - swimmers should not be training like bodybuilders! If all you do is traditional lifts lying on a bench or sitting in a machine you will be very strong sitting down or lying on your back. These positions are not functional to the sport of swimming.
I am not opposed to traditional training but it should only be part of puzzle and certainly not the entire thing.
Check out this ASCA article that I have attached which I wrote a couple years ago relating to this topic.
Absolutely - swimmers should not be training like bodybuilders! If all you do is traditional lifts lying on a bench or sitting in a machine you will be very strong sitting down or lying on your back. These positions are not functional to the sport of swimming.
I am not opposed to traditional training but it should only be part of puzzle and certainly not the entire thing.
Check out this ASCA article that I have attached which I wrote a couple years ago relating to this topic.
