Breaststroke - neck pain?

Green Hornet

Hello. I am trying to increase my lengths by mixing front crawl and breast stroke. Usually do a couple of lengths f/c followed by a couple b/s. Usually do 24 to 30 lengths maybe three times a weeek. However, recently I've developed a bit of a pain in my neck (just at the top of the shoulders) and its most noticeable the next day after swimming. I think, although I could be wrong, that it seems worse the more b/s lengths I do. Can the breastsroke strain the neck?

AngryHippie

It can for sure. Breaststroke is one of the only swimming strokes that can cause back neck and knee/hip problems, I know it is a good stroke for clocking up distance in a set when you're too tired for Front crawl, but beware of it, when you curve your spine back for breathing, it can cause compression in the cervical vertebrae, as well as in the Lumbar region. Be careful with this as if you overdo it, you can cause yourself a very uncomfortable few weeks. Try switching to inverted Breaststroke (breaststroke legs on your back, using the hands in a sculling motion, This will relieve most of the pressure on your neck and back. Any lifeguard should be able to give you the lowdown on the stroke if you are having difficulty with it. Also, Breaststroke when swam correctly does not have as much of an impact on the neck as your head nods down with the leg stroke, and back up with the arms to breathe, so it might be worth examining your breaststroke and getting a coach or teacher to have a look at it, It'd be a shame to have to completely change your routine because of it....:rolleyes:

paulksnn

+1 ^
I suffered the same for a while a couple of years ago.
I think its to do with the fact that you're swimming trying to keep you face pointing forward, as you, I and almost everyone is taught, with the head dipping down as you kick.

My Solution ended up being to swim with my face looking at the bottom of the pool (closer to f/c position - eyes forward), and only raising my mouth slightly above water level to take a breath. Hasn't bothered me since.

Clseeper

Aggree totally with the above. By putting your head dwon as you kick and drive forward should stop that problem. And by getting into a tight streamline position each kick, it will also help your glide and increase your distance per stroke.