Michael Phelps did it again. The part-man-part fish broke the world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. national championships last week in Indianapolis, giving him ownership of five individual world marks.
It’s unlikely that any of us mere mortals will ever accomplish what Phelps has in the pool, but his successes have inspired many to hit the water.
Swimming is a great way to stay in shape and have fun in the hot summer sun. What’s more, it also helps build endurance and muscle strength, too. Still, swimming doesn’t come without drawbacks, especially if you are unprepared.
The following are some factors to keep in mind before diving into a new swimming regime headfirst:
According to experts, the most common swimming injury is shoulder pain due to repetitive motion. To prevent pain and injury, consider starting off with a general exercise program to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder and upper back. Once your body has acclimated to the motion you should be able to kick off a swimming fitness routine that won’t leave you high and dry.
If you plan to swim in a foreign body of water, make sure you know its depth before diving in. Ideally, the bottom of the body of water should be double the distance from the object you’re diving. For example, if you plan to dive from eight feet above the water, make sure the bottom of the body of water, or any rocks or other impediments are at least 16 feet under water.
Finally, with summer here many people head to the beach to swim. If you plan to swim or bodysurf in the ocean do so away from the shore. Experts say sticking too close to the shore while bodysurfing may result in cervical spine injuries, some with quadriplegia, as well as shoulder dislocations and humeral fractures.
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