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Swim strokes question...
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roubaixman
Jul 3, 09 13:15
Post #1 of 16 (472 views)
Swim strokes question...
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I've recently taken a quantum leap in my swimming with a few individual coaching sessions and continued Masters swim. While my times are dropping and I'm now swimming about 10K yards a week, I'm starting to get some shoulder fatigue. This has been better since I learned backstroke and though I can't swim it very well without fins, I find that it seems to male the shoulder issues less of a problem, I suspect from the use of different muscles.
Is it worthwhile to try and learn breast stroke and butterfly or is alternating crawl and backstroke enought to keep out of trouble? Thanks.
nproximos
Jul 3, 09 13:17
Post #2 of 16 (469 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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theres probably something fundamentally wrong with your freestyle if your shoulders are hurting as you describe.
:D
Jul 3, 09 14:03
Post #3 of 16 (432 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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I disagree with the other guy.
But you should definitely do some rubber bands and/or weights for rotator cuff. In addition, you might also consider doing vasa trainer, pushups/bench press, lat pulls, and some light arm weights or bands for the arms. I think this will help you get your shoulders in shape so that you can swim properly and with strength.
I think it's helpful to do other strokes. If you need to get in the pool and freestyle is killing you, why not mix it up so that you can get in an effective workout? Fly helps you shoulder and arm strength a lot, too.
Sponsors: Quarq, Steady State Sports, Hincapie Sportswear.
footwerx
Jul 3, 09 14:12
Post #4 of 16 (421 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [nproximos]
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shoulders can ache if you suddenly up the swim mileage. it's very common. it's not necessarily an indication of an incorrect stroke.
ndenezzo
Jul 3, 09 14:14
Post #5 of 16 (421 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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Whenever my shoulders start to hurt from swimming, it usually means it's time to hit the weights a little bit. Grab some tiny weights (like 2-5 lbs tiny), and do some exercises for your rotator cuffs and surrounding shoulder muscles. Muscular imbalances can pull the shoulder joint out of proper alignment, which will cause irritation.
There may also be some issue with your stroke that causes the shoulder pain. Let your coach know, so he/she can watch and see if there is anything that would be causing the shoulder pain.
Backstroke is good for helping balance out the muscles used in freestyle, but can also cause shoulder problems if not performed correctly, so make sure to check that out.
The other strokes (breast and fly) can help with freestyle by building strength and emphasizing your catch. However, do NOT focus on butterfly if you are having shoulder problems already. It is a stroke that requires a lot of skill and strength, and will absolutely destroy your shoulders if you are not prepared for it.
Lastly, do not be afraid to take a day or two off to let your shoulders recover if they are hurting pretty bad. Every day you swim on an injured shoulder will require another day of recovery time.
FLA Jill
Jul 3, 09 14:21
Post #6 of 16 (410 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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Is it pain or fatigue? If it's just a case of feeling like you can barely lift your arms up long enough to shampoo your hair after practice, then congrats, you have learned how to go properly hard in a workout.
swimfastrunslow
Jul 3, 09 14:27
Post #7 of 16 (401 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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Be careful. Your shoulder could hurt due to bad stroke technique, or a increase in total distance swam (as per footwerx), or both. Strength training can also help (as per :D). I've had my shoulders hurt as I increased my total yardage and I would either swim until it hurt each day and then take it easy, or use fins to allow my arms to rest a little more. I would also switch to butterfly or backstroke, but breast stroke always seemed to aggravate my shoulder pain. If you're using paddles, I would advise you to take break from them for awhile. Good luck, and keep swimming :)
roubaixman
Jul 3, 09 17:08
Post #8 of 16 (340 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [FLA Jill]
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I think it's fatigue. I don't have bad pain as though something is injured. In addition to the difficulty raising my arms up (like I did a triceps workout with free weights) I also have sore lats. I think I'll back off the yardage a little. By the way, I wanted to thank you because one of your posts made a big difference for me. My coach kept telling me to really reach on the entry. I thought I was doing that but when I visualized it the way you expressed it like trying to reach up to get something off a high shelf I finally got what she was trying to teach me. She remarked on how I was finally doing it right at our last session.
tigerchik
Jul 3, 09 17:10
Post #9 of 16 (335 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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keep the "yardage," you'll adapt to it. Swimming is supposed to make your shoulders and lats sore. If it's terrible, bags of frozen veggies work wonderfully.
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mmm, pi!
bmanners
Jul 3, 09 17:43
Post #10 of 16 (316 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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Shrugs , Lat pulldowns, straight arm dumbell lifts front lifts and side lifts. Use just as much control going down as you do going up if not even slower to work shoulder muscles. The bands help also as someone else noted. They help speed my recovery after dislocated shoulder. Swimming really hurt after the accident before I started using the bands. The pain was mostly gone 3 months after using the bands at 6 months gone completely except for a little tightness.
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nproximos
Jul 3, 09 17:55
Post #11 of 16 (306 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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In Reply To:
I think it's fatigue. I don't have bad pain as though something is injured. In addition to the difficulty raising my arms up (like I did a triceps workout with free weights) I also have sore lats. I think I'll back off the yardage a little. By the way, I wanted to thank you because one of your posts made a big difference for me. My coach kept telling me to really reach on the entry. I thought I was doing that but when I visualized it the way you expressed it like trying to reach up to get something off a high shelf I finally got what she was trying to teach me. She remarked on how I was finally doing it right at our last session.
youre supposed to be more relaxed on the entry. you cant just reach reach really far without rotating your hips. i bet youre really tense when you swim.
FLA Jill
Jul 3, 09 18:16
Post #12 of 16 (282 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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Glad to help. I'm one of the least athletic people I know and I think that actually helps me when I try to explain things because I have to think about it all more than the natural athletes do.
show pony
Jul 3, 09 21:07
Post #13 of 16 (240 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [roubaixman]
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I'll let the others comment on the shoulders.
If you're a relatively new swimmer, anything that helps enhance your "feel" for hydrodynamics & propulsion is a good thing...breast & fly included. Get on it...
blood, sweat...and big gears
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ''Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.''
- Muhammad Ali
:D
Jul 4, 09 6:04
Post #14 of 16 (172 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [FLA Jill]
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but you are from FL which makes you automatically good at swimming. ;)
Sponsors: Quarq, Steady State Sports, Hincapie Sportswear.
JChapATX
Jul 4, 09 6:10
Post #15 of 16 (170 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [nproximos]
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theres probably something fundamentally wrong with your freestyle if your shoulders are hurting as you describe.
That's an ST answer if I've ever seen one!
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If you feel OK after you cross the line, you didn't go hard enough!
Team Honey Stinger
FLA Jill
Jul 4, 09 7:55
Post #16 of 16 (150 views)
Re: Swim strokes question... [:D]
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but you are from FL which makes you automatically good at swimming. ;)
I spent my swimming age group years in Michigan and ended up down here because I couldn't handle the seven annual months of slush and occasional May snowstorm anymore.
I so don't miss the winter days when you'd walk out of swim practice and your hair froze solid.
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