RSI/OOS

[indigogirl]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with RSI in 1998 after a day at work when I could no longer hold a cup of tea without dropping it. I saw an emergency GP straight after who told me I needed to see a specialist. After spending much money with no rehabilitation, I took 2 years off working altogether under the guise of studying (which I did, just not via any institute or school).

I returned to the work force in 2002 and since then have had no major problems. Although, having said this, I have had times where forearms, upper arms and particularly shoulder/neck area have been the sites of discomfort. I do realise that the area of real concern should be shoulder as this is the primary site of RSI.

Since starting at a gym last year in April, I have had to take time out from HIT and went on a contra-lateral program (ie, x3/week alternating left arm & right leg, then next workout right arm & left leg) to strengthen up left arm as it never built muscle like right arm (I am right-handed). This helped as I never increased the weight on right arm, only on left arm as it caught up.

Since going back into the pool, however, I have found that the discomfort in left arm is returning.

Can anyone suggest specific stretches after training to decrease or release tension in shoulders build up from working out in the pool. I tend to focus on drills to improve efficiency & technique and do moderate to heavy workouts only for a lap at a time with a rest period of no more than 1 minute.

Perhaps there is someone who has a similar problem with their rotary cuff???

Indigogirl

[swanso5]

This is a bit out of scope but you may need to add some external rotation exercises in there somewhere. Swimming is completely internal rotation so you need to balance it out. Not sure how your shoulders would respond to this though so just start doing it manually gradually decreasing the speed of movement. 5 yrs ago i cut all the tendons and nerves in half in right wrist and had to have everything surgically put back together. I have some restriction in wrist extensors and flexors but maybe if i stretched then daily they might come back. Anyway the point is, is that i had a massage about 4 months ago and the massuer said that the tension i have in neck, neck and upper bacjk is caused by something in wrist and forearm (the injury). Maybe you could try a massage and they could locate where the tension originates from.