General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Shoulder injury from swimming?? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2011-02-12 8:16 PM

User image

Master
3486
20001000100100100100252525
Fort Wayne
Subject: Shoulder injury from swimming??
A couple of weeks ago I noticed my shoulder was feeling weird after a day of training all 3 disciplines (swim was first) and snow shoveling.  I was raging within a mentor group and someone wondered if I had been over training the swim.  I had not considered this until she mentioned it but it has me guessing and wanting to put it out there to more people.

My swims have been intentionally getting longer since November and I am wondering if I have outstretched the boundaries of proper training increases?  It doesn't seem like it to me but what does everyone think?

First of all the injury is to my left deltoid, from the mid-line at the top of the shoulder to where it meets the tricep/bicep then it radiates back to include the rear delt to a much lesser degree.  I get a burning sensation at the middle of the delt from certain movements but most of the time it doesn't seem to bother me.  I have taken a week away from swimming but work didn't help me a ton and the additional snow we got in this region kept me shoveling and aggravating it some.

Here are my weekly swim totals since
November: 4000, 4800, 5550   - December: 5600, 6000, 7250, 9700 (3 swims this week)   - January: 5350, 7600, 4000, 7750 and the last swim week I dropped one swim and went very easy at 2700 yards.  I did not swim at all last week and plan one more week off before getting back in the water.

Am I way out of line for 2 swims a week?  I had no problems before the swim/run/bike/snow shoveling day.



2011-02-12 10:06 PM
in reply to: #3352303

User image

Veteran
274
1001002525
Everett, WA
Subject: RE: Shoulder injury from swimming??
I don't think it's the swim volume, or the rate of increase to the swim volume.

IF the injury is related to swimming, it could be a flaw in your stroke or a strain. It's hard to say without more information.

Maybe you did some sprints or high intensity yards?
2011-02-12 10:16 PM
in reply to: #3352303

User image

Coach
9167
5000200020001002525
Stairway to Seven
Subject: RE: Shoulder injury from swimming??
This is from your logs on 12/29...what do you think in retrospect? Was the problem present then?


My shoulders weren't liking the idea that I was swimming again today. I didn't hit it hard yesterday for this reason. If I had I wouldn't have been nearly as strong today and might not have finished the workout.

2011-02-12 10:48 PM
in reply to: #3352388

User image

Extreme Veteran
643
50010025
metro DC
Subject: RE: Shoulder injury from swimming??
oldntrin - 2011-02-12 11:06 PM I don't think it's the swim volume, or the rate of increase to the swim volume.

IF the injury is related to swimming, it could be a flaw in your stroke or a strain. It's hard to say without more information.


Ditto. Can be lots of reasons, but I'd definitely wonder about your stroke... doesn't have to be much "off" to cause pain & injury. I had worsening pain around the same area, and my hand was just going too wide on my recovery, which was causing constant strain on my deltoid. Just focusing on bringing my thumb closer to my ear as my hand was coming around (that and some strength training targeting the surrounding muscle) made all the difference in the world.

So, best advice I have is to have a good instructor/coach look at your stroke with a very critical eye.

Good luck!
2011-02-12 11:25 PM
in reply to: #3352419

User image

Coach
9167
5000200020001002525
Stairway to Seven
Subject: RE: Shoulder injury from swimming??
MarlaS - 2011-02-12 9:48 PM

oldntrin - 2011-02-12 11:06 PM I don't think it's the swim volume, or the rate of increase to the swim volume.

IF the injury is related to swimming, it could be a flaw in your stroke or a strain. It's hard to say without more information.


Ditto. Can be lots of reasons, but I'd definitely wonder about your stroke... doesn't have to be much "off" to cause pain & injury. I had worsening pain around the same area, and my hand was just going too wide on my recovery, which was causing constant strain on my deltoid. Just focusing on bringing my thumb closer to my ear as my hand was coming around (that and some strength training targeting the surrounding muscle) made all the difference in the world.

So, best advice I have is to have a good instructor/coach look at your stroke with a very critical eye.

Good luck!


Just curious...can you explain "wide" a little more? Do you mean you had a straight arm (ish) recovery?
2011-02-12 11:44 PM
in reply to: #3352303

User image

Subject: RE: Shoulder injury from swimming??

You mentioned you also were snow shoveling the day you noticed the injury? Perhaps its related to that rather than swimming? Just a thought Hope you feel better soon!



2011-02-13 7:29 AM
in reply to: #3352395

User image

Master
3486
20001000100100100100252525
Fort Wayne
Subject: RE: Shoulder injury from swimming??
AdventureBear - 2011-02-12 11:16 PM This is from your logs on 12/29...what do you think in retrospect? Was the problem present then? My shoulders weren't liking the idea that I was swimming again today. I didn't hit it hard yesterday for this reason. If I had I wouldn't have been nearly as strong today and might not have finished the workout.


I remember the workouts for the week.  The shoulders were just fatigued from the added swim on back to back to back days.  I don't remember having any type of irregular muscle pain that would have been different from the typical workout kind of pains.  Since you took the time to look that closely at my logs, I am sure you noticed the following week was a lower effort.  This was done intentionally to allow for recovery.  With these things in mind, do you think I have went over board on my swims for 2x a week?


Also, thanks to everyone for the advice. 

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Shoulder injury from swimming?? Rss Feed