How much front crawl is too much?

DustyBin

Reading other posts on here it's apparent that swimming front crawl only leads to bad things (not sure really but have seen things like incorrect muscle development, rounded shoulders etc mentioned)
I'm fairly new to swimming and don't clock up big mileage in the pool, 3 times a week at 2,000m a time would be a huge amount for me currently, more typical is something like twice a week approx 1,700m.
I swim for triathlon so really just want to concentrate on the front crawl. I always throw in maybe 250 m of breast stroke between warm up and cool down. I do something different because I heard that all front crawl is bad. I do breast stroke because I'm really crap at back stroke and lack the facilities to either steer or stop myself from whacking my head off the end of the lane

2 questions:
Swimming as little as I do should I be worried at all?
Is breast stroke sufficiently different to front crawl to offset that other muscular stuff only doing f/c causes?

Thanks for your help

Sigma Force

Was wondering the same, only taken it up a few weeks ago so at the moment just trying to get a bit fit (need to walk more but I hate any form of excercise aside from swimming).
Mainly breaststroke atm with a little bit of over arm (is that the correct term?).
Will be taking improvers classes after Xmas because I don't think the breaststroke is enough starting to loose weight on top all right but I find the oul leg muscles are still pretty weak (from lack of excercise for so long).

I think the improvers class might help to get out of bad habits and vary the different strokes.

I go daily and was doing around an hour (40 lanes) but have brought it down to 30-35 because my arms are so sore.
It's addictive though and loving it.

OP are there any improver classes where you are? I'm brutal at back stroke and need to start using my legs more and I think the only way I'll improve is if I have someone shouting at me from the edge of the pool lol.

Clseeper

This topic seems to have gotten a good bit of focus on the board recently – probably more than is necessary. The advice being given by myself, and I’m assuming other posters, is to ensure people design their programs correctly and are diligent in their warm ups and stretching from the very start to prevent these issues.

Like any sport, there are repetitive strain injuries (Runners in their knees and calves, footballers in their Achilles or groin etc). The same is true of swimming and like all other sports, stretching and a varied exercise program helps reduce the risk of injury.

To your specific questions; you probably wont have to worry too much but this all depends on intensity and your stroke (When pulling is the primary motive muscles in your arms (biceps) or your shoulders? Do you kick more or at all? Etc.)

Most major muscle groups work in pairs (adiabatic muscles), extreme working of one of the pair can lead to some of the issues suggested. For example if you only work your pecs, these can toughen up, tighten and the muscles in your back stretch to accommodate this. But by stretching and maybe doing some exercises on your back, an even building up of both can be achieved.

I wouldn’t consider brs to work the opposing muscles for fc. Backcrawl would be more ideal but that isn’t an option, just be diligent in your stretching regime and maybe in your land work put in some sets for your back.

Not sure how comprehensible all that was so hope it made sense. Ping back for clarification if needed. I’d hate to see people scared or hold back in their training because there is a higher perception of risk of injury.

DustyBin

Thanks Clseeper
Yeah that makes sense alright, I guess I was just hoping that someone would either say 'foreget about it you're grand' or else 'breast stroke will do the job'
Gave the backstroke another go there this mornign and maybe is not so bad after all :pac:


@ Sigma Force, I go to a coached session once a week and find it great for improving technique as well as pushing boundaries and getting me out of my comfort zone

The Bad Pawn

I wouldn't be a big distance swimmer but last year I was clocking about 9 to 10Km per week in the pool. Thankfully I had no swimming injuries but I did do weights as well to keep my muscles balanced.

mark 1

If you do triathlon you should keep doing froncrawl and forget about breastroke