With the warm weather arriving many are heading to the pool or lake to cool off. While swimming is often thought of as a low impact sport that doesn't mean that you can't get injured. Here are five of the most common swimming injuries.
Swimmer's Shoulder
It is estimated that almost everyone who swims regularly will experience some form of shoulder pain
Typically occurs from the freestyle stroke - poor technique is typically the culprit
Can also occur from improper use of swim paddles or excessive workload
Typical shoulder injuries include: rotator cuff impingement/tears, bicep tendonitis, bursitis
Swimmer's Knee (AKA Breaststroke Knee)
Most commonly occurs during the breaststroke kick
Results in external rotation of the knee joint - this stresses the ligaments on the inside of the knee (the medial collateral ligament or MCL)
Limiting the external rotation of the knee will help prevent this common injury
Lower Back Injuries
A high head position &/or sinking hips and legs can lead to overarching of the back
Lifting the upper body out of the water with the back instead of a whole body movement puts strain on the ligaments and muscles
Neck Injuries
Often occur during the freestyle stroke as swimmers over rotate their heads
Can also occur when swimmers performing the breaststroke contort their head to keep it above the water
Keeping the neck in line with the spine is important to prevent neck injuries
Concussions
Can occur from: impact with another swimmer, impact with a pool wall (or other solid structure in the water), or falling on the deck
Most swim injuries can prevented with:
Good stroke technique (for more info click HERE)
Less repetition - practice more than one stroke to prevent the overuse of any one muscle
Strengthening of the core muscles
Having proper rest/recovery periods
This post is intended for educational purposes only and should not be substituted for medical advice.