Shoulder injuries are the most common in swimming and has led to Kennedy and Hawkins first introducing the term “swimmers shoulder” in 1974 to describe common pain experienced during, and after workouts. They attributed this pain towards shoulder impingement, where inflammation of one or more of the rotator cuff tendons causes a pain or ache in the shoulder. This is often aggravated during swimming, with pain commonly increasing during lifting activities, especially when the arm is outstretched or above the head. However, further analysis of this condition suggested that the cause of shoulder pain could not be solely explained by impingement alone. It was suggested that the cause of shoulder pain was more complex, involving a number of factors, including stroke technique, overuse, fatigue and shoulder instability.
Most common causes for shoulder impingement injuries
Overtraining.
Poor stroke mechanics.
Not enough rest periods.
Poor breathing technique.
Poor flexibility or range of motion.
Decreased rotator cuff or shoulder blade (scapular muscle) strength.
Poor core strength or stability.
As with most soft tissue injuries the initial treatment is RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. If you experience pain or soreness for more than 48 hours you should seek medical attention.
Shoulder rehabilitation
Training programmes should include slow progressions of duration and intensity, alongside frequent technique workouts to support stroke mechanics. It is also important to encourage land conditioning; involving shoulder rehabilitation exercises.
What if I'm injured?
If you are injured, our advice would be to pause the workouts straight away and rest up. Pushing through an injury can make it worse and increase recovery time. If necessary, we would recommend you see a doctor or physio.
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