Blog | Don't Get into Deep Water with Swimming Injuries

Swimming is one of the most popular sports in the world.

We swim in the sea, pools, lakes, streams, rivers and even ponds. And given 70% of the Earth's surface is water, we're not short of opportunities.

And while swimming is considered a ‘low-impact' sport due to the fact that the water supports a large percentage of, more than 84% of regular swimmers suffer from some type of overuse type injury caused by swimming.

Why? The main reason is the high repetition number and forceful nature of the shoulder revolutions which takes our shoulder joint through its full range of motion (which is one of the greatest of all our joints), against resistance, over and over again.

And as 50-90% of the power generated to propel you forward comes from the shoulders, you can see why they are the most frequently injured joint.

However, swimming also puts stress on your back, to hold you level in the water; on the neck when raising your head out of the water to breathe and if you favour breaststroke as a stroke, there's added pressure from the unnatural twisting motion on the knees.

So, despite it seeming to be a low-impact sport, swimming actually carries a surprisingly high risk of injury.

Let's take a look at those injuries, why they happen and what you can do about them.

Swimming injuries generally stem from two sources, and often these sources will combine:

1. Muscle imbalances

2. Stroke technique issues



If you have any questions please get in touch by calling 01953 604 331 or emailing us on info@back-in-motion.co.uk

To begin your treatment plan, please call your nearest practice for bookings or further information.