Swimming Injuries

Common Swimming Injuries

Shoulder Injuries: Often referred to as "swimmer's shoulder," this includes impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendinopathy. These injuries are common due to the repetitive overhead motions of swimming.
Knee Injuries: Medial knee pain from MCL irritation or pes anserine bursitis can occur due to the constant fluttering and kicking motions especially with Breastroke.
Neck and Back Pain: These can be caused by improper body alignment, poor streamline motion, muscle weakness, or overuse of certain muscle groups during strokes shifting the load to the spinal structures.
Ankle Injuries: These can happen due to the repetitive motion of the feet, particularly when swimmers wear fins or perform excessive flutter kicks into plantarflexion.

Movement Screening: This involves a series of tests designed to assess the flexibility, mobility and control of different joints and muscle groups used in swimming. It helps identify any deficits or predispositions that may make the swimmer susceptible to injury.
Strength and Endurance Testing: Assessing the swimmer’s strength and endurance, especially muscles around the shoulder and core region, is critical for understanding their ability to perform at high levels and their risk for overuse injuries.
Risk Factor Identification: Screening for factors such as previous injuries, medical conditions, training load, flexibility, motor control, and strength, can all help in risk factor identification that will guide us to implement injury prevention strategies.

Physical Assessment: Identifying any areas of weakness, tightness, or imbalance in a swimmer’s body. It often includes a thorough evaluation of posture, flexibility, muscle strength, and movement patterns.
Diagnosis: Through our extensive assessment we form a diagnosis for our patients with a clear pathway to reach their physio finish line
Medical History: Understanding the swimmer's injury history and overall health condition is crucial for an accurate diagnosis and plan going forwards.

Rehabilitation Protocols: The recovery process for a swimmer includes specific exercises aimed at restoring function, mobility, strength, and flexibility after an injury.
Targeted Exercises: Strengthening specific muscles that swimmers use, such as the shoulders, core, legs, and back, is crucial. Resistance training, bodyweight exercises, and functional movements are imperative in swimming rehabilitation.
Shoulder Strengthening: Focus on exercises that target the rotator cuff and scapular stabilisers in a variety of different positions to improve scapular function and scapulohumeral rhythm, which helps prevent swimmer’s shoulder injuries.
Core Stability: A strong core is fundamental for a swimmer’s stability, streamline position, and performance in the water. Exercises that engage the abs, obliques, and lower back muscles are essential.

Monitoring Training Load: Balancing intensity, volume, and recovery is key to preventing overtraining and injury. Swimmers need to gradually increase training loads while ensuring adequate rest and recovery.
Tracking Recovery: Ensuring swimmers are properly recovering between sessions is essential to avoid fatigue or burnout. Recovery modalities, like stretching, hydration, and sleep are critical in recovery.

Warm-Up and Cool-Down: Proper warm-up before practice and cool-down afterward with specific stretching and activation exercises help in preventing injuries by preparing the body for intense activity and allowing it to recover.
Strength Training: Regular strength sessions 1-2 x week in the gym
Cross-Training: Swimmers can benefit from participating in other activities such as cycling, pilates, and yoga, all help to improve overall conditioning and reduce the risk of injuries.
Technique Optimisation: Coaches play a key role in technique correction. Proper stroke technique reduces strain on muscles and joints, minimizing injury risk.

Gradual Return to Water: After an injury, swimmers must follow a structured and gradual return-to-sport program that allows them to rebuild strength, flexibility, and endurance without risking re-injury. Rehabilitation should progress from land-based exercises to water-based activities, starting with low-impact exercises before reintroducing full-intensity swimming.
Progressive Training/Loading: This includes progressively increasing training intensity and volume, while monitoring the swimmer’s response to ensure that there are no pain or symptoms, or overtraining and causing fatigue and injury.

Physician’s Role: Medical professionals such as physiotherapists and sports medicine doctors should be involved in the management of injuries. They may recommend imaging tests, medication, or referrals to specialists if needed.
Pain Management: Techniques such as ice, heat, NSAIDs, and other pain relief methods may be used to manage discomfort and inflammation.

Collaborative Approach: Working closely with coaches ensures that rehabilitation or training programs are aligned with the swimmer's goals and performance needs. Coaches can offer valuable insights into technique, training load, and stroke mechanics.
Technique Adjustments: Coaches can also help in modifying a swimmer’s technique to prevent injuries and enhance performance.

Swimming nutrition plays a critical role in a swimmer's performance, recovery, and overall health. Proper nutrition helps ensure energy availability, muscle repair, and hydration, which are essential for achieving peak performance and reducing the risk of injury.