Can anyone recommend a good workout for someone 18 months out from rotator cuff surgery? I am finally at a point where I can swim again. I've been trying several different workouts but I can't seem to swim more than 200 yards freestyle at a time without exhausting my shoulder. I've done the full PT and weight program to strengthen my shoulder. It feels strong yet I have to keep switching to breaststroke. I can't seem to get a good workout this way. Breaststroke is my worst and slowest stroke. Any ideas?
I am recovering from rotator cuff surgery this past april- i started out swimming in August and could do only *** stroke (my worst sroke also) and when i tried free, i could not even do 25 yards. However, the doctor gave me some additional stretching to do and it improved the flexibility sufficiently to swim free. actually, i only pull since it hurts when i swim- using a buoy keeps the body level and I do better body rotation which minimizes issues with the shoulder. in one month, i have gotten up to 3,000 yds. I cannot wait until i can swim fly- i am afraid to try it right now since i cannot do the motion on land without difficulty. i definitely need to build up the strength for that, as well as the flexibility and range of motion.
why did you have the surgery? i get sharp pains in my shoulder when i swim more than three miles in a week. I'm not sure if I'm just not stretching enough or if there is something more going on. I mostly swim free style so maybe switching it up a bit will help.
I had the surgery about 20 months ago. It was a pretty bad injury. I had a full thickness tear in the suprasprinatus tendon, a cuff tear as well as a bicep tendon tear. The recovery was long and painfull. I have very low blood pressure so most painkillers aren't an option for me. The PT was hell.
I tried swimming five months post surgery and it was a disaster. Even just walking caused pain. I finally just decided to wait. It wasn't til this summer I decided to try swimming again. I am pretty sure I will never swim fly again and backstroke is very painfull as well. I never realized how much swimming was a part of my life both physically and mentally. I guess I should just be gratefull I am able to do some and hope for more down the road.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I did try swimming with the pull buoy and it is much better.
Just a general word of caution (and I'm sure that other Forumites will back me up on this, having expressed similarr opinions in other posts):
Stretching is advocated by many, but ............. :
Never stretch cold muscles.
Stretching is best done after your warm-up or after your session. Never before.
Good luck
Just a general word of caution (and I'm sure that other Forumites will back me up on this, having expressed similarr opinions in other posts):
Stretching is advocated by many, but ............. :
Never stretch cold muscles.
Stretching is best done after your warm-up or after your session. Never before.
Good luck
Ditto, besides that's what the Hot Tub is for.
