Rotator cuff tendonitis?

Forums

Forum guidelines BT super discount

Updated posts

My threads
No new posts

My favorite threads

General Discussion

Triathlon Talk » Rotator cuff tendonitis?

Rss Feed

Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller

iruptacopula

2009-08-13 10:48 AM

Veteran

645

Tennessee

Subject: Rotator cuff tendonitis?

I am pretty sure I have a touch of rotator cuff tendonitis. Any one had this and how did it take to get back to normal. I can swim through the pain but just wonder if I should. Any thoughts.

famelec

2009-08-13 4:02 PM

in reply to: #2346277

Master

1790

Tyler, TX

Subject: RE: Rotator cuff tendonitis?

Ibuprophen and a day or two of rest. Have someone look at your stroke since poor stroke mechanics can contribute to the pain. If the problem is stroke mechanics, it will get worse with more swimming. Do some on-land shoulder exercises to improve muscle strength around the shoulders. You can find quite a few through Google.

Brian

My Race Log

Patrick Ward

2009-08-14 2:15 PM

in reply to: #2346277

Regular

Subject: RE: Rotator cuff tendonitis?

Have someone look at your thoracic spine mobility. The idea that we can just "strengthen" rotator cuff muscles and make them better is fundamentally flawed. These are more muscles of "timing" than strength and they will never be stronger than the prime movers. They need to fire first to keep the humerus centered in the joint.

If thoracic spine mobility is poor (t-spine extension and rotation) it will force the scapula (shoulder blade) to give up its inherent stability in order to allow the shoulder to move through the range of motion you are asking it to move through. You need to address this mobility first prior to attempting to strengthen those muscles.

Patrick Ward MS, CSCS, LMT
Free training info at Optimum Sports Performance

iruptacopula

2009-08-14 3:03 PM

in reply to: #2346277

Veteran

645

Tennessee

Subject: RE: Rotator cuff tendonitis?

Thanks for the info. I guess I should of mention I don't think I got it from swimming because I had taken a week off from training but woke one morning and it was sore and has been sore every since. So I haven't swam in two weeks.

Patrick Ward

2009-08-14 4:20 PM

in reply to: #2349391

Regular

Subject: RE: Rotator cuff tendonitis?

iruptacopula - 2009-08-14 2:03 PM

I'm not saying you got it from swimming. I am saying you need to figure out WHY it has happened instead of just focusing on the site of pain (shoulder) which is most often NOT the source the pain.

Patrick Ward MS, CSCS, LMT
Free training info at Optimum Sports Performance

destriero

2009-08-15 3:17 PM

in reply to: #2346277

Regular

106

Fort Myers, Florida

Subject: RE: Rotator cuff tendonitis?

I had a pretty bad case of this back in high school and it pretty much ended my swimming career. I can see right in your avatar the same stroke issue I did that causes excessive pressure and wear on the rotator cuff - you have a really wide recovery with your hand all the way stretched out there, which basicaly just hinges all your arm's weight on your shoulder. Practice a high elbow recovery(point your elbow at the ceiling and bring your hand straight forward on the recovery. The fingertip drag drill is a good one for this. Once you get used to swimming this way you'll like it MUCH better Don't swim through the pain...it will get worse!