Even if swimming has the reputation of being a low-impact exercise, swimming injuries can nevertheless occur due to over-demanding workouts or incorrect technique.
By the way, this article assumes that you swim responsibly in a safe environment (with supervision). Otherwise more severe injuries or even death could occur. Please don’t take risks!
Swimmer’s Shoulder
Swimmer’s shoulder is the most common injury in swimming. It can be caused by bad technique, excessive or quickly increased workloads or the use of swim paddles and pull buoys.
I have written a detailed article about swimmer’s shoulder here.
Breaststroke Knee
The breaststroke knee or swimmer’s knee is an injury that can be triggered by the stroke mechanics of the breaststroke kick.
When the legs extend, then are brought together during the propulsive phase of the kick, the knee is subject to external rotation, for which it isn’t designed.
The inner ligament of the knee, called the medial collateral ligament, is then put under stress.
To avoid the breaststroke knee, it is advisable to:
- Vary swimming strokes.
- Have rest periods during the year where you don’t swim breaststroke.
- Properly warm up and do stretching exercises before a swim session.
- Do strengthening exercises for the hamstrings and quadriceps. AskTheTrainer.com, for example, describes the best leg exercises you can do to strengthen your legs.
Neck Injuries
The neck is very mobile, and this is why certain precautions must be taken to avoid swimming-related neck injuries. Neck Injuries are often due to incorrect technique.
While swimming front crawl, you should keep the head in line with the spine and the eyes should be looking straight down. Avoid looking forward or lifting your head to breathe.
Also, avoid over-rotating the head during the inhale. Rotate the body more so that the head doesn’t need to rotate so much to clear the water.
While swimming the breaststroke or butterfly stroke, keep the head aligned with the spine at all times.
When you breathe in, look slightly down and forward so that the head stays in a neutral position.
Finally, in backstroke, swim distances must be increased gradually so that the anterior neck muscles have time to adapt.
Lower Back Injuries
Lower back swimming injuries are also often due to incorrect technique.
While swimming front crawl, you might be swimming with a high head position and your hips and legs sink. As a consequence, you may be kicking hard to keep the legs up and be overarching the back.
If this is the case, you should work on your position and balance so that you can find a relaxed horizontal position.
While swimming butterfly, it may be that you have poor technique and lift your upper body out of the water with the strength of your back.
If that’s the case, work on your body undulation and dolphin kick so that it’s the body wave that lifts your upper body out of the water and not your back. Also, warm up and stretch properly before attempting this swimming stroke.
Additional Tips To Prevent Swimming Injuries
- Warm up and stretch before a swim session.
- Cool down and stretch after a swim session.
- Follow a general program to develop your functional strength.
Liz Sentz Horvet
Tuesday 20th of August 2013
The biggest way to avoid knee injuries via breaststroke -- the power of the kick comes from the hip (which IS a rotation joint).
If you're rotating your knees, you're not kicking correctly.
Ollie Rose
Sunday 6th of July 2014
If you're American, you just solved the mystery of why the Brits are so bad at swimming. We're taught to kick with our knees! Thank you.
Eleanor Powell-Butler
Thursday 3rd of November 2011
Again... Never too late to learn!
Hiren Patel
Wednesday 2nd of November 2011
Good information about swimming injuries...