I am new to distance swimming and I absolutely love it!!! My fear is injury and not being able to train at a high level. So my question, for allthe experienced distance swimmers, how do you take care of your body to prevent injury? Supplements, additional training, therapies, etc.
Pilates, by which I mean serious work on core, shoulders, and hips. By improving my joint stability, Pilates has helped me overcome serious neck and shoulder problems that interfered not just with swimming but with ordinary activities like carrying my purse, sitting up, and sleeping. It's also made me swim faster because I can hold my torso steady while I pull rather than wiggling around. If you've never done it before I recommend personal training at first if you can afford it, so that you learn how to access the small and deep muscles that are the exercise targets rather than simulating the movement using big muscles and thus missing the point.
Many people recommend yoga for similar reasons. I have never tried any kind of yoga so I have no personal experience from which to compare it with Pilates.
Regular deep tissue massages from a massage therapist who works with and understands athletes. Massage helped me most in fixing a chronic elbow problem.
Something weight-bearing, even if it's just walking around a few times a week. Osteoporosis will interfere with other aspects of your life before it interferes with your swimming, but why risk it?
I don't take any special nutritional "supplements," but I adopted a pretty low-carbohydrate diet at the beginning of this year and it is working very well for me.
Pilates, by which I mean serious work on core, shoulders, and hips. By improving my joint stability, Pilates has helped me overcome serious neck and shoulder problems that interfered not just with swimming but with ordinary activities like carrying my purse, sitting up, and sleeping. It's also made me swim faster because I can hold my torso steady while I pull rather than wiggling around. If you've never done it before I recommend personal training at first if you can afford it, so that you learn how to access the small and deep muscles that are the exercise targets rather than simulating the movement using big muscles and thus missing the point.
Many people recommend yoga for similar reasons. I have never tried any kind of yoga so I have no personal experience from which to compare it with Pilates.
Regular deep tissue massages from a massage therapist who works with and understands athletes. Massage helped me most in fixing a chronic elbow problem.
Something weight-bearing, even if it's just walking around a few times a week. Osteoporosis will interfere with other aspects of your life before it interferes with your swimming, but why risk it?
I don't take any special nutritional "supplements," but I adopted a pretty low-carbohydrate diet at the beginning of this year and it is working very well for me.
