Other/Mixed Active Shoulders and Swimming

[Andy Roberts]

Today's newsletter had a great article on "active shoulders". As a masters swimmer, I started thinking that the many shoulder problems suffered by swimmers might be avoided by applying the same technique as in overhead lifting.

Many swimmers including the great Ian Thorpe "Thorpedo" have had career ending shoulder injuries and shoulder impingement.
The logic is that extending the shoulder for the catch improves streamline (reduced resistance to water) and a stronger beginning of the freestyle pull.

While there may be some truth to that, I doubt that the small extension makes much difference for the pull, but does result in shoulder impingement. I have seen far too many swimmers holding their shoulder at the end of a tough swimming set and have friends that have had shoulder surgery.

Is the solution as easy as packing the shoulder as is advocated for proper kettlebell technique?
Any other swimmers in StrongFirst who have thoughts on this?
Andrew Roberts
Wakefield QC

 

[Boris Bachmann]

Today's newsletter had a great article on "active shoulders". As a masters swimmer, I started thinking that the many shoulder problems suffered by swimmers might be avoided by applying the same technique as in overhead lifting.

Many swimmers including the great Ian Thorpe "Thorpedo" have had career ending shoulder injuries and shoulder impingement.
The logic is that extending the shoulder for the catch improves streamline (reduced resistance to water) and a stronger beginning of the freestyle pull.

While there may be some truth to that, I doubt that the small extension makes much difference for the pull, but does result in shoulder impingement. I have seen far too many swimmers holding their shoulder at the end of a tough swimming set and have friends that have had shoulder surgery.

Is the solution as easy as packing the shoulder as is advocated for proper kettlebell technique?
Any other swimmers in StrongFirst who have thoughts on this?
Andrew Roberts
Wakefield QC

I remember having exactly this same discussion probably 15 years ago on the DragonDoor forums. At the time, I argued that the roll and shrug that many freestylers do at the beginning of the catch was not a big deal - many many disagreed including Kenneth Jay (who knows swimming well).
I have not changed my mind on this - for otherwise relatively healthy shoulders, it's not a big deal and no one will be able to apply much strength and power in that outstretched position anyway and there is no real load so the chances of injury are small. Now, if you have an existing issue or mobility problems, then maybe it's something to look at, but I think most swimmers w. those issues will self correct and shorten their stroke anyway.
One might argue that "Well, if you can't apply much force in that position and may will self-correct anyway then why do it at all?". My answer would be that as a competitive athlete, you're always looking for "an edge". As a former competitive D1 swimmer and coach w. experience at all levels except world class/D1 who was short himself, I tried to maximize distance per stroke in any way I could. I had some shoulder problems as most swimmers do with years of experience but nothing that major. Fwiw, I don't coach a shrug, but I do coach roll and reach.
JMO