I was cruising the Internet last night and somehow got on the subject of straight-arm recovery (SAR). You know, like Janet Evans and a few other prominent swimmers. The most recent being YouTube - Swimming - Go Swim Straight Arm Freestyle with Scott Tucker.
From what I read, SAR may help to reduce shoulder strain in older swimmers (i.e., me) and those with less flexible shoulders, so I gave it a try this morning just for fun.
I have to say, I like it better than high-elbow. I did several 25 sprints using both techniques and found I wasn't any slower using SAR, and I might actually be slightly faster.
The thing I was really struck with is how effortless it felt to swim SAR as compared to high-elbow (for me anyway), and I also found my pull to be more complete. With high-elbow, I have a tendency to shorten my stroke a little bit and not follow-through completely. With SAR, this isn't the case for me.
I was just curious as to how many others in Masters-land regularly swim using straight-arm recovery.
Hey there, Deb! Check out this link to a previous thread on "Scapular Swimming".
Scapular swimming - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums
This is the swimming technique my part-time coach has been working with me on, because of my past shoulder injury/surgery. Take a look at the thread, because there is a link describing the proper technique for fly, as well. And, I know you are swimming a lot more fly these days! Basically, to cut to the chase, make sure you keep your arms within your peripheral vision in the recovery. Otherwise, your recovery is too high, putting additional stress on your shoulders.
Anyway, in my opinion, you are smart to do what you can to protect your shoulders. Afterall, we're not getting any younger! :cane:
Good luck!
:cheerleader:
P.S. Drop me a PM and fill me in on the latest! :)
Cool! Thanks, Elaine. :agree: I'll give that thread a look-see.
It's only my right shoulder that gives me trouble now and then. Since I am right-handed, I tend to use this side of my upper body the most, and I'm sure I stress it too much sometimes when lifting stuff. I try to conciously use my left arm more when doing day-to-day stuff, but it's hard to remember sometimes.
Funny thing about swimming fly -- it doesn't bother my shoulders in the least, which I am very glad about. :D This is what led me to SAR in the first place. The article I read mentioned how similar SAR is to swimming fly.
Your welcome, Deb! Good luck with this. It sounds like it's a natural fit for you. :applaud:
P.S. "Immoral Minority"... :lmao: It reminds me of one of my favorite bumper stickers on the subject: "The Moral Majority is neither." But, that's the subject for a NSR thread and I'm not going there... :afraid:
Did your daughter take any time off before swimming with SAR, or did she simply switch from one style to the other while maintaining the same training schedule?
My daughter is a "social" club swimmer, so any changes she made weren't completely intentional. It was more fear of the (perceived) wrath of her coach. :) Basically, the kids have three weeks off between the end of LCM season in July and the beginning of SCY season in August. She was moved up to a higher practice group, and the coach of her new group noticed that she wasn't extending her left arm fully on her freestyle. He pointed it out to her on the first day of practice, and she says that he also told her to straighten her arm some on her recovery. Her shoulder pain is gone, and it took only three weeks to disappear completely. It was bothering her some at the beginning of the season. She is practicing noticeably faster, and we're interested to see how that will translate to meet times.
I was just curious as to how many others in Masters-land regularly swim using straight-arm recovery.
You can count me as one. My race pace free has always been SAR, but my low endurance pace (EN1) is with a high elbow catch. I was taught high elbow catch when I was a kid, but I think SAR comes naturally when I'm going faster. It's hard to remember how I was taught since I was 5 or 6 years old when I started.
I've never had shoulder problems and it's worked for me for 20+ years, so I don't think there's anything wrong with it.
...my 13 year old daughter recently changed from a high elbow to a straight arm recovery. Her touchy shoulder recovered completely within two weeks, and her speed and efficiency improved immediately.
Did your daughter take any time off before swimming with SAR, or did she simply switch from one style to the other while maintaining the same training schedule?
I use a high-elbow recovery, which is most comfortable for me and has worked thus far (meaning, I'm afraid to change it. :)). However, my 13 year old daughter recently changed from a high elbow to a straight arm recovery. Her touchy shoulder recovered completely within two weeks, and her speed and efficiency improved immediately. Interestingly, her SAR was a by-product of her coach correcting her stroke on the first day of practice of the season (her left arm wasn't extending fully and was crossing the midline on her pull). Some of the fastest age group swimmers I see have a straight arm recovery.
I was just curious as to how many others in Masters-land regularly swim using straight-arm recovery.
Yes, straight-arm recovery for me; no shoulder problems.
I have switched to a more straight arm recovery as well. My shoulders aren't hurting anymore. I have more of a side arm swing than an over the top swing.
I am able to swim comfortable again for various distances. Still working on gaining speed and endurance with the stroke but it is a lot better than when I was swimming with a high elbow style recovery
Well, it looks like I'm in some pretty good company (you, Elaine-iak, Chris, and gdanner). :agree:
I've always been a side arm swinger myself, which is why I switched to high elbow about 6 months ago, with the hope of improving my speed. Switching did result in an increase in my speed and DPS, but it's not worth having a "touchy" right shoulder.
After experiementing with SAR for the past week, I'm now of the mindset that I'm probably more of a side arm swinger because this is how my 55-year old anatomy works best. :) But, SAR seems very natural to me and feels much more effortless. It'll be fun to see how it all adds up over time.
