Common Injuries in Swimming
Swimming is a sport that improves cardiovascular functions and, unlike other sports, can even help reduce the risk for arthritis. It can help burn calories, strengthen muscles, build endurance, and boost mood. However, for all of its benefits, there are still risks for injuries in swimming.
Some common swimming injuries are:
Swimmer’s shoulder
Swimmer’s back
Swimmer’s knee/Breaststroker’s knee
Swimmer’s neck
Swimmer’s Shoulder:
Swimmer’s shoulder is an injury that results from overuse of the rotator cuff muscles. People may experience it when they swim too much or use their rotator cuff muscles without regulation. If an athlete is swimming too much in preparation for a meet or competition, especially without regulation or breaks, they are likely to get swimmer's shoulder. It also may be caused by poor stroke form or lower rotator cuff strength, but most get it from overtraining.
This injury is very common among swimmers, but it is also easy to prevent with screening and correct form when swimming.
When recovering from this injury, it is recommended to strengthen and stabilize the rotator cuff muscles and shoulder. If needed, a change in training may also be needed to ensure correct form and prevent overuse.
Rotator Cuff Muscles
Swimmer’s back:
This is another common injury among swimmers, being even more common among breaststroke and butterfly swimmers due to the motion used to swim among these two types. This is also due to the fact that swimmers are often horizontal in the water, and so forces from water and gravity may change the spine. Swimmer’s back affects the lower back and may cause lower back pain. Some athletes may also develop swimmer’s back by overusing devices when they swim, such as fins, paddles and kickboards.
To prevent this injury, it is recommended that athletes use the correct kick and arm techniques and have a strong core.
Treatment may include strengthening the core, using the correct swimming technique, correct volume of training and spine stabilization exercises.
Swimming breaststroke is a common way to get swimmer’s back
Swimmer’s knee/Breaststroker’s knee:
Another common injury among breaststroke swimmers is the swimmer’s knee. Due to the kicking motion involved in breaststroke, there is repetitive force being placed on the knee which may put a strain on the medial collateral ligament, or MCL. It may also sprain that ligament as well. The 200-400 m breaststroke is found to cause the highest risk for swimmer’s knee than any other event, and training more than 4 times a week doubles the risk.
Prevention includes not only avoiding training more than 4 times a week, but also changing the style of swimming from only breaststroke to include some variation. Changing the form when kicking such as improving the hip adduction angle can also prevent swimmer's knee.
Treatment may include stretching and strengthening the muscles and ligaments around the knee, using a cold compress, and taking anti-inflammatory medicines.
Where pain in a swimmer's knee may be
Swimmer’s neck:
Another common injury is Swimmer’s neck. This is mainly due to raising the head too high when taking a breath in swimming styles like breaststroke or rotating just the neck when taking a breath when doing freestyle swimming. This is mainly seen in older athletes, where it may also be due to joint change and nerve irritation.
Prevention includes using the proper forms when taking a breath. That means keeping the head aligned with the rest of the body and not raising it too high when taking a breath or rotating the entire body when breathing in freestyle instead of just the neck.
Treatment includes using different swimming styles instead of just one and consulting with a doctor on how often you should swim.
Breathing correctly in breaststroke - head is aligned with the body
Conclusion:
While these four types of common injuries are not all the types of injuries that may come from swimming, these all show that proper injury prevention is to use the correct form when swimming and to strengthen muscles to prevent injury.
Sources:
“Common Swimming Injuries: Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group.” Orlin Cohen, 12 July 2021, www.orlincohen.com/news/five-common-swimming-injuries-and-how-to-avoid-them/.
“Is Swimming and Exercising in Water Good for People with Arthritis?” Versus Arthritis, versusarthritis.org/news/2021/june/is-swimming-and-exercising-in-water-good-for-people-with-arthritis/. Accessed 31 Aug. 2024.
Marcin, Ashley. “12 Benefits of Swimming: Weight Loss, Health, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 9 Sept. 2017, www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-swimming#benefits.
“Swimmer’s Knee: Swimmer’s Knee Injury and Treatment.” SONR, www.sonr.pro/post/swimmers-knee-swimmers-knee-injury-and-treatment. Accessed 31 Aug. 2024.
“Swimming Overuse Injuries.” Physiopedia, www.physio-pedia.com/Swimming_Overuse_Injuries. Accessed 31 Aug. 2024.