Finger Cramp?
3354
Member
1412 days
RV posted 2 years ago.
Any stroke may be used in a tri.
I would get cramping in my hand and it was due to me kind of making a cup shape with my hand. My fingers were bent and clenched together. Not a good idea. Since I have relaxed my hand and actually keep the fingers relatively straight and slightly spread - no more cramping. Actually catch more water this way.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
1012
Member
1203 days
PJT posted 2 years ago.
I've gotten hand cramping from accidentally leaving my wedding ring on in the water. It's a little too big these days and I really don't want to lose it in a lake. So I would press my fingers tightly together to keep it from slipping off and 10 minutes later the hand would cramp up. I should probably just re-size the ring, though I'm waiting to see where my weight ends up after this season.
477
Member
1343 days
geochuck posted 2 years ago.
You can also get finger cramps in very cold water. Swim with a relaxed hand do not force the hand together, don't press the thumb against the index finger. RV and PJT are right relax.
You can swim any stroke even dog paddle.
3354
Member
1412 days
RV posted 2 years ago.
geochuck wrote:
... RV and PJT are right relax.
Hey GeoChuck - of course I'm right - And that is only because I had asked this same question a long time back - And that was basically what You responded to me with! It is nice being able to pass on something learned! - Thanks - again.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
693
Member
1152 days
deepbluex posted 2 years ago.
Is it true that you catch more water by keeping the fingers slightly spread apart as opposed to stuck next to each other in a cup shape? I've been swimming keeping my fingers stuck together...
83
Member
941 days
bouli posted 2 years ago.
Thanks for the responses guys. My swimming teacher (when i was younger) always told me to put my fingers together when taking a stroke. I guess it's each to their own? I feel like i'm catching more water when i keep them together, however, that's probably what's causing the cramps, so tomorrow i'm gonna try with my fingers looser and see how it goes.
thanks again for the advice!
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
-- T.S. Eliot
So i've been hitting the pool hard enough over the last few weeks, and despite my dismal form, and inability to do many lenghts, i'm sticking at it and I AM GETTING BETTER.
However, today i hit my first real problem-the fingers in my right hand cramped up SO BAD i had to stop. i felt i could still go on putting in the lengths, but my hand hurt so much i just couldn't deal with it.
Has anyone else had this trouble before? i've had foot cramps in both feet when i was swimming when i was younger, and i'm well used to that, and i've also had minor ones in my hands, but never so bad that i had to stop.
I started a new job a few weeks ago which involves using a mouse all day, and i have been feeling some pain in that hand when working. Is it work related? or is this just something all swimmers go through? I used to tape my fingers together when rock climbing for strength, would that help me?
Also, on a different note- do you have to swim "front stroke" in a tri, or is it whatever gets you to the end of the swim course? Because i don't think i can complete the distance solely on front crawl. I'd say i'd need to do half breast stroke.
sorry it's long. any help's appreciated as always!
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
-- T.S. Eliot