swimming w/ROTATOR CUFF injury?

[storispa]

I've just begun a swimming routine and after first day (20 laps) I have rotator cuff discomfort. Is it OK to keep swimming? or should I not swim laps until pain is gone? I don't want to injure more but really, really want to stay in the pool!

[bekki]

(Swim/water polo coach for 10 years)

In all likelyhood, it's your stroke technique that is causing the pain. I see a lot of shoulder pain coming from people who are new to swimming. It's hard to explain through written text, so if you can find a masters coach to help you, you'd probably be good to go.

However, I'll try to offer some pointers:
Make sure that you are rotating your body with every stroke. You want your opposite hip pointed down, and your arm coming across your body. You do NOT want to keep you pelvis parallel with the bottom of the pool and your arm stroking down.

When your arm exits the water, think about your elbow exiting first, and keeping it bent the whole time out of the water. So, elbow exits first, fingertips enter first.

So this video is of Ian Thorpe, so it's a high standard, but I think it shows sort of what I'm talking about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TbpB-1WjcU&feature=related

And here's a good video to show the stroke, and some drills to help it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUULNJEdKU8&feature=related

[storispa]

Thank you so much!

[SusanMac]

The Total Immersion series of books/DVDs has some really good drills for what Bekki describes above. I did best w/the DVDs (since they're visual), but they're a lot more expensive than the books.

(No...I don't work for Total Immersion! I swear) I'm a triathlete who likes to swim :-)