Is it normal to feel pain in my back after swimming?

Question

I was doing the breaststroke (or trying, anyways), and my back hurts; especially my shoulder blades. Is this a normal ache for someone who has just started? Should I continue to swim (I was going to go back on Tuesday, and swim 3 times a week) or will I only make matters worse?

Answer 1

you should definitely do some shoulder stretches before you swim. Here is a list of a few, but I would ask your coach or physical trainer if you have one for any extra stuff.

Stretch between shoulder blades - interlock your fingers and make your palms face away from you, and reach your palms as far away from your chest as possible, try to feel the stretch in your upper back.

Do some shoulder swings. Basically slowly rotate your arms a full 360 degrees slowly about 10-15 times, then backwards the same. This'll help loosen everything up before you swim.

If it hurts, especially a sharp pain, stop and tell your coach. They should have several stretches for you to do.

If after you go through extensive stretches before swimming and that doesn't work, you should consider your future in swimming. Maybe swim without intense breaststroke, maybe no swim at all, maybe swim with a stretch cord before each workout.

So... Pain like that is not normal. Do all your stretches and ask your coach. If its still like that in a few weeks I would consult a doctor or physical therapist or something.

Answer 2

Based on the arm movement of breaststroke, yes. Do some shoulder stretches before you begin your swim.

Answer 3

Yes it's normal. I swim breaststroke on my schools varsity team, and it happens all the time. Because of the way you are moving your arms, you're working a muscle, that you probably don't commonly use. The pain goes away after a few days, but keep swimming. If you stop swimming till it's gone, it will only hurt again. Keep swimming, and work through the pain, the shoulder muscles you gain, are killer, and SO worth it!