Swimming
Competitive swimmers are some of the most impressive athletes out there. It takes incredible force, strength, power, and mental tenacity to push yourself through the water at those incredible speeds. Swimming is a popular sport at both the youth and collegiate levels, with some of the top performers going on to become Olympians. With all that time in the water, however, it’s no surprise that swimmers are prone to injuries.
Some of the most common injuries in swimmers include:
- Low back pain
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Bicep tendonitis
- Meniscus tears
- Swimmer’s shoulder
- Neck injuries
- Swimmer’s knee
One of the great things about swimming is that it’s a low-impact sport, which makes it a viable alternative to sports like running and basketball, which involve a lot of impact and jumping. That said, swimmer’s aren’t immune to injuries. The repetitive arm movements that swimming requires can do a number on your shoulders. Plus, neck strain is a real concern for swimmers looking to literally get ahead of the competition.
Then there’s also the risk of knee injuries in swimming, which especially applies to breastroke swimmers. The force with which they need to kick to propel themselves forward could cause excessive stress on the knee’s inner ligaments.
The recovery time for a swimming injury depends on the severity of the injury itself. Shoulder impingements typically take 3-6 months to fully heal, but this varies based on how you choose to rehab the injury. Our tip? Work with a pro sports injury physical therapist who knows all about swimming injuries. We’ll help get you back in the pool sooner than you thought and safer than before.