Swimmers... particularly Masters Swimmers... tend to develop unique injuries. It is really hard to find information and solutions for these problems outside of the aquatic world. I would appreciate it if folks who have overcome shoulder/elbow injuries (or other swimming related problems) could post information on what your injury was, and how you solved it.
My selfish reason for this new thread? I've been dealing with "swimmer's shoulder" for about 6 years (I'm 32). I'm trying to find a non-surgical solution that will allow me to continue to swim (relatively pain-free?). I swim everything from sprints to open-water marathon swims -- and my shoulder pain (which has spread to my neck and elbows) is making it less enjoyable.
Looking forward to hearing some success stories. Thanks!
Duncan
Parents
Former Member
I am new to this board, and definitely a newbie to swimming for exercise. However, I grew up almost swimming before walking (recreationally) and really love the exercise I get from swimming now. But that is beside the point.
I am a family practice physican with a bit of sports medicine training (I am NOT board certified for sports medicine, however). I have also had more than my fair share of sports related, chronic injuries from various activities.
I do have a few recommendations, but take them with a grain of salt since I have not had the chance to examine you, and mostly these are general recommendations.
1. You should, under no circumstances, swim through the pain. This will only excacerbate your injury, causing chronic and perhaps permanent damage
Very very true. Sad, and bad news if you think about it, but things WILL get worse with any chronic tendonitis (which it sounds like you have)
You should lay off for at least 6-8 weeks
Hard to say for sure, but if this has been persistent or even intermittent for 6 years, 6-8 weeks is not long enough to rest your shoulder.
2. At the same time, you should try to strengthen your shoulder rotator cuff.
Also true. Many chronic sports related injuries are at least in part caused by muscle imbalances across a large joint (examples: knees, shoulders, the low back). Here is the difficult part: it is nearly impossible to recover on your own. The shoulder muscles and its motion is perhaps the most intricate and complicated joint in the human body. I would say that you need either an awesome trainer or physical therapist to work with your shoulders to evaluate its motion and relative strengths of the rotator cuff muscles. If you continue on the path now, you will probably have chronic pain and/or instability of that shoulder.
It's all about balance of strengths and mechanical forces. I don't see an easy answer to this one. A physical therapist well versed in sports medicine combined with avoidance of re injury, and knowing you are in for a long (but not impossible, I suspect) recovery are key.
And now that my first post to this board is so preachy, please forgive me when I ask some questions that may sound dumb in the future
I am new to this board, and definitely a newbie to swimming for exercise. However, I grew up almost swimming before walking (recreationally) and really love the exercise I get from swimming now. But that is beside the point.
I am a family practice physican with a bit of sports medicine training (I am NOT board certified for sports medicine, however). I have also had more than my fair share of sports related, chronic injuries from various activities.
I do have a few recommendations, but take them with a grain of salt since I have not had the chance to examine you, and mostly these are general recommendations.
1. You should, under no circumstances, swim through the pain. This will only excacerbate your injury, causing chronic and perhaps permanent damage
Very very true. Sad, and bad news if you think about it, but things WILL get worse with any chronic tendonitis (which it sounds like you have)
You should lay off for at least 6-8 weeks
Hard to say for sure, but if this has been persistent or even intermittent for 6 years, 6-8 weeks is not long enough to rest your shoulder.
2. At the same time, you should try to strengthen your shoulder rotator cuff.
Also true. Many chronic sports related injuries are at least in part caused by muscle imbalances across a large joint (examples: knees, shoulders, the low back). Here is the difficult part: it is nearly impossible to recover on your own. The shoulder muscles and its motion is perhaps the most intricate and complicated joint in the human body. I would say that you need either an awesome trainer or physical therapist to work with your shoulders to evaluate its motion and relative strengths of the rotator cuff muscles. If you continue on the path now, you will probably have chronic pain and/or instability of that shoulder.
It's all about balance of strengths and mechanical forces. I don't see an easy answer to this one. A physical therapist well versed in sports medicine combined with avoidance of re injury, and knowing you are in for a long (but not impossible, I suspect) recovery are key.
And now that my first post to this board is so preachy, please forgive me when I ask some questions that may sound dumb in the future
