General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swimming and shoulder pain Rss Feed  
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2005-06-07 9:11 PM

New user
9

Texas
Subject: Swimming and shoulder pain
Today I wanted to do a 1000m time trial in my swim. Around 800m my left shoulder began to ache, by 900m the pain radiated down my left arm. I have had problems with my shoulders before so I'm not sure if I am reaggravating an old injury. However, my right shoulder is fine. Could it be related to the fact that I breath on my right side every stroke? I wonder if turning to breath so frequently on my right is putting stress on my left rotator cuff. Any ideas?


2005-06-07 10:00 PM
in reply to: #170782

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Master
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Mechanicsburg, PA
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
Funny you should post this tonight. If you are a right side breather, you may not be rotating your body "left side up" far enough to bring your left arm out of the water along your side. It took me until tonight's swim to realise that by not rotating as much I was actually bringing my left arm out of the water along my back, over-extending the tar out of my bad rotator cuff. For the first time since I started re-learning freestyle last fall, I was able to do my whole swim without any pain or discomfort. Hope that helps!

-Frank
2005-06-07 10:04 PM
in reply to: #170782

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Regular
80
252525
Kansas (Kansas City area)
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
I'm wondering if it's more a symptom of poor balance. Since you only breathe on one side (which I do too) it suggests that you're probably not as balanced in the water as you should be. I tend to not keep a "high" elbow on my left side. Good luck.
2005-06-07 10:11 PM
in reply to: #170782

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Expert
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Durham, CA
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
I had a very similiar sitution about a year ago - trying to ramp my swimming distance up too fast, breathing only on my right side - my shoulder started to really hurt. I rested, it helped a little, but flared up as soon as I got back into either swimming or weights. It took about 20 visits all-together to the Chiropractor to get it back to about 95% - In my case, the tendons were not symettrically stresssed - causing the joint to be slightly out of alignment. It got to the point that it hurt to hold a cup of coffee.Thankfully, my chiro was able to set me up with some stretching techniques, and do his magic to make it better. I would suggest some rest, and if it doesn't get better pretty quick get some professional help.PS - you also want to move toward bilateral breathing - that will help reduce the stress on your left shoulder. You may also want to see if you can find a coach to check out your stroke - you may have some problems there that are at the root cause of your injury.Good Luck,Dennis
2005-06-07 10:51 PM
in reply to: #170782

New user
9

Texas
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
Thanks for the replies. I think I'll rest it a week and try bilateral breathing next week. I was breathing bilaterally about a month ago and had good luck. I actually felt I had better overall body positioning. I'm not sure why I stopped. I'll let ya'll know how its goes.
2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
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Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain

Rob,

Hmm, I've been having some shoulder pain, too.  About 6 weeks ago I was feeling really energetic and swam 2800 yards- probably twice what I usually do.  I noticed that my left shoulder was a little sore- not painful- just some movements remind me that it's not quite right.  I figured the soreness would go away in a few days.  Well, it's stayed pretty much the same.

I hadn't thought about it having anything do to with how I breathe- I always breathe to the left.  I have noticed that during my longer swims the left side of my neck starts to get sore- so I've been forcing myself to breathe on the right for at least part of my swim.

Do you have someone who could look at your stroke and give you some tips?



2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
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Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain

sorry, I seem to be the moron of the day!



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 9:00 AM
2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
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Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 9:00 AM

2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
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Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 9:00 AM

2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
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1001001001002525
Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 9:00 AM

2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
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1001001001002525
Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 8:59 AM



2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
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Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 8:59 AM

2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
461
1001001001002525
Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 8:59 AM

2005-06-08 8:58 AM
in reply to: #170782

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Extreme Veteran
461
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Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain

wow, what happened?!



Edited by imnotjoking 2005-06-08 8:58 AM
2005-06-08 10:45 AM
in reply to: #170782

Master
1728
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portland, or
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
Here's a good site regarding swimmer's shoulder: swimmers shoulder

One thing they don't discuss that I feel is very important is a proper warm-up. I warm up my shoulders on deck before every swim by doing arm rotations. I do arm roations in each direction with each arm separately, together, and together in opposite directions. I then always start with a few hundred yards of easy swimming. Lastly I like to include a few lengths of backstroke in both my warm-up and cool-down.

good luck

scott
2005-06-08 4:06 PM
in reply to: #170782

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Master
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Harvard, Illinois
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
I have had shoulder pain for twenty years after having surgery to rebuild my rotator cuff. A few things I do to keep the pain away is warm up with pushups. I like to breathe to the left, so when I do my pulling I breathe to both sides. I always cool down now with atleast a 100 yd. easy swim usually breast stroke. That has kept the pain away for me this year.

Mike


2005-06-08 9:38 PM
in reply to: #170782

New user
9

Texas
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
Thanks again. All good ideas. The stretching is probably a good habit to start. I am bad about stretching. My swim coach is going to evaluate my stroke monday. I think its going to be a body rotation issue related to my right sided breathing. As well as bad elbow positioning. I remembered the other night I was using hand paddles and on the recovery phase I was not lifting my left arm up out of the water with my elbow held high. The hand paddle kept trying to come off my left hand during the recovery phase. I'll let everyone who's interest know what I find out. I hope I can swim by Monday. Today I can't lift my left arm up from my shoulder if my palm is facing up!
2005-07-20 6:32 AM
in reply to: #170782

Member
14

Baile Átha Cliath
Subject: RE: Swimming and shoulder pain
hi, since going to the physio yesterday as i couldn't run for a week with 'runners knee' or ITBS, i decided to go for a big swim last night. Result: swimmers shoulder!!!

Yes, i breathe one side
Yes, technique is bad
Yes, i overtrained

Lessons learned!
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swimming and shoulder pain Rss Feed