January 31st, 2007 | Dan Kershaw | Newsletter
The next time you are at the pool take a look at the persons’ butt ahead of you. Does it look straight, is one hip higher, is their head on straight, are their shoulders and their knees the same height?
Ask yourself this question… IF THEY CAN’T STAND STRAIGHT THEN HOW CAN THEY SWIM STRAIGHT? If one hip is higher then it is also tipped forward and the opposite is true of the other. That is how they lay in the water and something has to compensate for those mechanics.
What usually happens is one shoulder reaches further forward or out to the side or deeper or cannot push all the way out the back of the stroke. Have you had your coach tell you this continually and somehow you can’t seem to fix it? Does one leg come out of the water when you do breaststroke kick or one hand come out or dig deeper doing backstroke ?
Often one shoulder keeps giving you a problem. Anytime one side hurts like shoulder, knee, ankle etc…some problem exists. If you can’t seem to correct it with stroke mechanics then go home and take a look at yourself in a full length mirror (get your parents to look at the back of you of course.)
So what do you do? Well look at your posture. Not just while standing, but also when you study, watch TV, sit at the computer, play X-Box or walk. Make sure you sit or stand straight and even. Carry your backpack on both shoulders, use the waist-strap, don’t carry everything you own in it – take some out and carry it in your arms. Do the same with your purse. Stretch!!!!!!!!! If it isn’t enough then talk to your coach, or see a Chiropractor or, if you are more comfortable, then a Physiotherapist. My experience with swimmers is that ignoring it only leads to lots of compensation, aches and pains and more serious issues.
That my friends, is how your butt screws up everything!!!!
Submitted By Dr. June Dies-Keys BPHE, DC
Mulock Chiropractic
