Swimmer's...ELBOW??
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ChunkyB posted 25 weeks ago.
I know this sounds weird, but do you work at a computer.
A lot of times, especially since it's in your right hand (mouse hand), you sit in a position so your elbow is right at the corner of the table. This can cause a lot of pain. I have had pain/numbness like this before, and a lot of times I don't notice it until I'm actually doing something with my elbow (playing baseball or whatever). Just a thought.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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vanjames posted 25 weeks ago.
I will guess its the inside of your elbow? (50/50 chance I know) Are you left handed? I ask because it can happen in the less dominant arm. I have/had this problem as well. For me it doesn't bother me until about 2500m of continuous swimming. Not sure how swimming related it is but I lean on the elbow at the office alot and that compresses the ulnar nerve. You can google ulnar nerve compression and see if the symptoms are similar. I find that if i do more of a straight pull (rather than a slight "s") with the left arm the pain goes away.
IB and heat//ice as well.
Are your little adn 2nd last fingers shaking or feel any numbness when not in the pool??
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trigirltina2 posted 25 weeks ago.
By the way, years ago I learned to swim with the S and that is not how people swim today. (accprding to my coaches) Straight pull back and your thumbs touch you thighs. Make sure to ask your doc what the heck is going on and or a chiropractor. I'm going weekly and have notice I don't creek as much. If that makes sense to anyone.
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gfd posted 25 weeks ago.
2 years ago was my 1st year swimming and I also experienced pain in my right elbow. It worsened to the point where I had no strength in my grip at all. The doctor diagnosed it as tendonitis, similar to "tennis elbow". He injected me with 2 steroid shots into the elbow. That hurt quite a bit and the rest of the day was all pain. The next morning it was like I had a new elbow. I have not experienced any pain or lack of strength since then.
"If you set a goal for yourself and are able to achieve it you have won your race." -Dave Scott
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KevDaddy posted 25 weeks ago.
I used to get regular pain in my left elbow (I'm a lefty) as I was building my swim stamina.
Occasionally it flares up when I do long distance swims (4k or 5k), but not for 2k or less. I have never gotten it in my right elbow, which always surprised me.
Something that does bother more regularly on my longer swims is slight cramping in my hands. Once the tension shows up, I try to relax my hands and fingers more but it is annoying.
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TriOnLife posted 25 weeks ago.
If you have pain on the outside of your elbow see if someone can watch you and tell you if you are dropping your elbow as part of your stroke. That is my problem. My arm goes in the water and my elbow drops and then when you pull through the recovery you put a tremendous amount of torque on the outside of the joint. It's a hard problem to fix but totally worth it. A Coach can tell you if that's what you have going on.
And to KevDaddy - my left elbow is the big offender. I breath on the left. Coincidence? Nope. As I turn my head to breath the elbow goes down.
The antidote is to really shove your hand toward the bottom of the pool on entry like you are trying to pick something up. It feels very exaggerated but it does help.
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
www.breakingthetape.com/21stcenturymom
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fastdog5 posted 25 weeks ago.
TriOnLife wrote:
If you have pain on the outside of your elbow see if someone can watch you and tell you if you are dropping your elbow as part of your stroke.The antidote is to really shove your hand toward the bottom of the pool on entry like you are trying to pick something up. It feels very exaggerated but it does help.
It is on the outside of the elbow.
I don't follow...could you explain the "antidote" more? Wouldn't reaching down drop your shoulder and/or your elbow? (Sorry, I am clueless about swimming & don't get the technique). Thanks.
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TriOnLife posted 25 weeks ago.
One coach told me to reach for the bottom of the pool. Your elbow is straight at that point and the goal is to make sure that your shoulder stays higher than your elbow. Once you have completed rotating up on to that side you bend the elbow and pull water. You want to make sure you lead with your hand, not pull by your shoulder.
Watch this video and notice the angle her arm is at before she starts the pull. She's in a machine so her recovery does not include high elbows but this stroke is what you want
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz27aYIY-SM
This one shows good (and some bad) form in the water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LqqNO3WYZ0
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
www.breakingthetape.com/21stcenturymom
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KevDaddy posted 25 weeks ago.
TryOnLife- thanks for the recommendation. I will try it and see if it helps. Funny thing is I am a pretty committed bilateral breather, but I suppose there is some historical weakness in the tendon that shows itself in this way.
Hope to meet you at Vineman-
Kevin
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fastdog5 posted 25 weeks ago.
Aha!! Thanks so much for the links; makes more sense now. I'm sure this is easier said than done, but I will definitely work toward this. Thanks again.
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TriOnLife posted 25 weeks ago.
KevDaddy wrote:
TryOnLife....Hope to meet you at Vineman-
Kevin
No - It's not a Try On Life - I'm Tri on Life (as in high on life) ha ha.
I'm going to call Tina and hopefully meet up at the 1:00 Saturday meeting. I'll be scanning for yellow hats!
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
www.breakingthetape.com/21stcenturymom
I'm having pain in my elbow, and I'm pretty sure it's swimming related. Most of the resources online focus on shoulder injuries, so I'm wondering if anyone has had any similar issues and how to prevent it. I'm icing & taking ibuprofen. It flares up after about 10 minutes in the pool.
For background, last year was my first full year of swimming. I have been steadily improving this year, but I can't figure out what I am doing differently that would have brought this on. The pain is in my right elbow; I breathe on both sides. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.