Swimming

Help, I recently went back to swimming laps after 30 years. My favorite strokes are free style and butterfly. I just found out that those strokes could tug on my leads on my pm. I am so upset and wanted to hear what other serious swimmers do. I have a very stressful job originating mortgages and my drug
of choice is excercise. Swimming has always been a love of mine and I fell back in love with swimming laps. Advise?????

3 Comments

Welcome to the club

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-21 02:12:16

Welcome to the club. It's a great group. Lots of knowledgeable people here.

You don't give any information in your bio. Consequently we don't know how long you've had your PM. That can make a difference in how we answer your question.

Actually you're pulling on the scar tissue and not the leads. You'll probably have to back off for a little bit until you can stretch out the scar tissue.

Within the first 90 days I had my PM I pulled the scar tissue in the implant area. Hurt like hell. After seven months I was able to get back to "normal" activities and start working in the wood shop. It took another two months to get the scar tissue stretched out with a lot of sore days during that time. Now I can do anything I want. No problem with the scar tissue in the PM area.

Please consider I had a lot of trauma before getting my PM, so my recovery times were extended. They broke all the ribs on my right side doing CPR so it took longer for me to heal. Probably won't take you as long.

In the meantime I'd suggest you try different swimming strokes. That will give you an all round exercise and keep you active. Maybe explore some historical strokes that aren't taught anymore. The Trudgeon Trawl is one that comes to mind. While doing that you'll be able to give the scar tissue some rest. Maybe even work out with a float board using just the legs. It'll give the scar tissue some rest.

I hope everything else continues to go well for you.

swimming

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-21 05:12:58

Who said the strokes would tug on the leads? Some drs are more conservative than others, some have more experience with active patients than others. Less informed office staff can give out advice that is not accurate. The internet is full of outdated advice. Sometimes when they tell us to hold back there is a legit reason, other times it's simply that they don't have any other patients like you, so rather than do some research they say no. So, my first advice is to question the source. If the source is not your dr, talk to your dr.

My dr is active himself and understands that staying fit is important to me. He said do whatever I want, stop if it doesn't feel right and don't do anything stupid were his exact words when I said I wanted to try Crossfit 5 years ago. Most leads are put in with slack so they aren't tight enough that normal arm movement will do any damage. Olympic training, maybe. Swimming to stay fit, unlikely unless there is something odd about your leads or placement. The leads are intended to bend and flex with us.

swim your heart out!

by Bean19 - 2015-12-22 07:12:27

I have been a swimmer for decades before my pm and have been swimming since 6 weeks after my pm. I spoke with my doc prior to the surgery and of course after. We agreed to a slow go back: first week go 20 % effort for 20% of my typical time for a workout. Each week I increased 10% of both intensity and time. Within two months being back I was at my full intensity and time. There are times when my pm is uncomfortable and I decrease intensity and the uncomfortableness goes away.

Biggest message: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! You are the one who knows the best about it!

Happy lapping!

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