Sports Injuries Associated With Swimming

Unlike most sports, there is generally very little in the way of injuries associated with the sport of swimming. The only exception is shoulder injuries.One swimming injury that can sideline...

Unlike most sports, there is generally very little in the way of injuries associated with the sport of swimming. The only exception is shoulder injuries.

One swimming injury that can sideline swimmers if not attended too properly is rotator cuff tendonitis. Overuse is what gives most shoulder injuries to swimmers. Other causes of injury in swimming is improper technique (reaching too far or over-rotating and crossing over in freestyle when pulling), a sudden increase in distance or in intensity, using pull buoys and hand paddles in excess, swimming only freestyle at every workout instead of varying the workout, and having an unbalanced strength to your workout.

There are ways to prevent swimming injuries. One way is to remember to bend your elbows when you are underwater during the pull. Proper form will keep you from having an awkward position that can be the cause of rotator cuff injuries.

Always ease slowly into workouts and slowly increase both time and intensity of your workouts. It is especially important to ease back slowly into a workout routine if you have had time off for injury healing. Buoys put tension on your joints and should be avoided during workouts. Even though paddles can be designed to not cause shoulder pain, most still do. Paddles should also be avoided during workouts.

Cross training works all muscle groups and avoids overstraining one group of muscles. If you do not cross-train you will overuse certain muscles and cause strain.

Use bilateral breathing into your workouts to discourage breakdown and shoulder issues that can occur from breathing on one side.

Always have both warm-ups and warm-downs.

After healing from a shoulder injury and when you are first resuming workouts it is important to support your shoulders with fins. This allows you to take pressure off of your shoulders, gives you a greater cardiovascular workout and builds strength in your legs that benefits your swimming.

Signs or symptoms that you may have a shoulder injury while swimming:

Pain while swimming freestyle

Forward slouching of the shoulder while you are seated

The affected shoulder may feel a little mild winging

Tenderness in the acromioclavicular joint

Tenderness in the affected side’s bicep tendon

Decreased strength in the supraspinatus and infraspinatus

Moderate posterior and anterior laxity for both of your shoulders

Bilateral sulcus sign

Pain only after heavy workouts

Pain both during and after workouts

Pain that interferes with swimming ability

Not being able to participate in swim meets due to pain

During rehabilitation from a shoulder injury your doctor and preparation for return to swimming workouts may initiate the following treatments:

Cryotherapy

Moist heat

Electronic stimulation

Ultrasound treatments and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling

Correct technique flaws Pain-free isometric and elastic cord exercises with low resistance

Enforce non-use of hand paddles and partner-assisted stretching and also overhead training.

Gradually add high-speed isokinetic exercises and diagonal pattern elastic band exercises and a slow return to full activity after complete healing and doctor approval.

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