Swimming is a terrific non-impact form of exercise. The activity can improve cardiovascular health and may also assist with a number of other issues.
However, just like any sport or activity, swimming comes with its share of injury risks. One very common injury swimmers suffer from is shoulder pain. Swimming injuries such as rotator cuff tears, shoulder tendonitis, and others can lead to excruciating pain and a decreased ability for one to use his or her arm effectively.
In this article, we will discuss the issue of shoulder pain after swimming and investigate how chiropractic care can be the perfect treatment for this patient population.
Shoulder Injuries
Many times, shoulder injuries can be grouped under the umbrella term “shoulder pain”. There are tons of specific injuries that can occur in the shoulder joint such as ligament sprains, muscle/tendon tears, and many others.
Regardless of what specific shoulder injury you’ve suffered from, dealing with the pain and dysfunction in this area is always very debilitating.
The Swimmer’s Shoulder
One of the reasons why swimming is such a great form of exercise is because of the total-body nature of the pursuit. Swimming forces people to use their legs, arms, and core in order to slice through the water.
But while the whole body is used during all swimming strokes, the shoulders tend to take the brunt of the forces experienced by swimmers.
In all of the major strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly), swimmers use their shoulders to power the movement. In fact, shoulder injuries in swimmers are so common that there is even an injury known simply as “swimmer’s shoulder”.
Swimmer’s shoulder is related to frequent overhead motion. For this reason, many other overhead athletes, such as volleyball players, can experience swimmer’s shoulder as well.
In more technical terms, swimmer’s shoulder is known as impingement syndrome. This is a condition that involves some of the tendons within the shoulder becoming “pinched” by a hooked portion of the shoulder blade. When the muscles of the chest begin to overpower the stabilizer muscles in the back, the shoulder blade will tilt forward, increasing the “pinching” effect seen in impingement syndrome.
With chronic swimmer’s shoulder, the tendons of the shoulder may actually begin to tear. In very serious forms of the condition, the tendons may even rupture completely.
Preventing Shoulder Injuries in Swimmers
Luckily, there are some easy ways to prevent and treat shoulder injuries in swimmers.
One such method for addressing shoulder injuries is to perform regular strengthening and flexibility exercises outside of the pool. By performing exercises that strengthen and open up the shoulder area, swimmers have a decreased chance of developing issues. Furthermore, they may have an easier time recovering from injury.
Additionally, swimmers should consider attending regular chiropractic sessions. Chiropractors are experts in injury prevention and treatment. By performing specific spinal manipulations, your chiropractor can improve range of motion, decrease pain, and return your spine to optimal health.
In fact, by manipulating the spine, many shoulder-related issues can be improved markedly. This is due to the complex interactions between the nervous system and the rest of the body. By improving these connections through spinal adjustments, tons of painful conditions may be reduced in severity.
Are you a swimmer who is looking for a way to improve your performance and decrease your risk of injury? If so, you should consider setting up an appointment with your local Plano, TX chiropractor at Keystone Chiropractic. Our expert team will evaluate your needs and develop a treatment plan specifically suited to you. Book your appointment today.
