Swimming to keep fit while injured

roberteboot

I recently ruptured a disc in my back.Im getting treatment for it at the minute and i pretty much have to leave the gym work out for the minute.I was told that id be okay to swim so im delighted with that.I used to swim witth a club and that when i was younger but im just wondering will the swimming allow me to pretty much maintain the muscle that i have at the minute?(If im swimming for say an hour and feeling it?)
Or maybe even help build up my shoulders/chest?
I just hate the idea of being out of action and dont want to completely rest so id like to think that the swimming is at least maintaining the work ive been doing in the gym.
So basically what exactly will the swimming be doing mostly?Burning calories/Building muscle etc.
Cheers.

poobum

swimming isnt great for building muscle after a certain level it is great do for toning! if you do alot of breast stroke you will tone youn thighs and chest and arems where as frontcrawl dosent use the chest as much but does use your calfs more...
it also rules for burning calories as you can swim for ages!
it can build muscle but it is a slow builder of muscle! it gets you very powerful wings do! cant remember their name! the muscle worked when doing a lat pull down!

scuba steve

poobum wrote:

swimming isnt great for building muscle after a certain level it is great do for toning! if you do alot of breast stroke you will tone youn thighs and chest and arems where as frontcrawl dosent use the chest as much but does use your calfs more...
it also rules for burning calories as you can swim for ages!
it can build muscle but it is a slow builder of muscle! it gets you very powerful wings do! cant remember their name! the muscle worked when doing a lat pull down!

Is it Triceps youre on about?

scuba steve

roberteboot wrote:

I recently ruptured a disc in my back.Im getting treatment for it at the minute and i pretty much have to leave the gym work out for the minute.I was told that id be okay to swim so im delighted with that.I used to swim witth a club and that when i was younger but im just wondering will the swimming allow me to pretty much maintain the muscle that i have at the minute?(If im swimming for say an hour and feeling it?)
Or maybe even help build up my shoulders/chest?
I just hate the idea of being out of action and dont want to completely rest so id like to think that the swimming is at least maintaining the work ive been doing in the gym.
So basically what exactly will the swimming be doing mostly?Burning calories/Building muscle etc.
Cheers.

Im in the same boat as you. But im not even allowed swim!

nobodythere

roberteboot wrote:

I recently ruptured a disc in my back.Im getting treatment for it at the minute and i pretty much have to leave the gym work out for the minute.I was told that id be okay to swim so im delighted with that.I used to swim witth a club and that when i was younger but im just wondering will the swimming allow me to pretty much maintain the muscle that i have at the minute?(If im swimming for say an hour and feeling it?)
Or maybe even help build up my shoulders/chest?
I just hate the idea of being out of action and dont want to completely rest so id like to think that the swimming is at least maintaining the work ive been doing in the gym.
So basically what exactly will the swimming be doing mostly?Burning calories/Building muscle etc.
Cheers.

I have a ruptured disc too, stick to front stroke if you can as the others can be a bit tough on the back. I still do cardio in the gym but no lifting. Try out some QiGong too for your back and pilates if you're not overly ****ed

DrIndy

You are clearly seeing a physio and thus following the advice, anyone injured should only undertake more than light exercise under their guidance, at least initially to prevent reinjury.

poobum

scuba steve wrote:

Is it Triceps youre on about?

no...if i remember the name i will post it again! i say wings because when your arms are in the air they stick out at and under your armpit and if they are big enough i think they look like wings

roberteboot

DrIndy wrote:

You are clearly seeing a physio and thus following the advice, anyone injured should only undertake more than light exercise under their guidance, at least initially to prevent reinjury.

I completely agree.I was stupid enough to think it felt alot better so i went up and did a decent gym session which set my recovery back about a week.So now im taking a complete break from it apart from the swimming and the recovery exercises.

roberteboot

grasshopa wrote:

I have a ruptured disc too, stick to front stroke if you can as the others can be a bit tough on the back. I still do cardio in the gym but no lifting. Try out some QiGong too for your back and pilates if you're not overly ****ed

Is yours a recent injury?Ive been wondering how long the recovery will take if i treat it right(which i hadnt been doing to be honest)
Same question to Scuba Steve too.
Cheers for the replies.

scuba steve

roberteboot wrote:

Is yours a recent injury?Ive been wondering how long the recovery will take if i treat it right(which i hadnt been doing to be honest)
Same question to Scuba Steve too.
Cheers for the replies.

Im 12 weeks after my operation and I cant play sports or weights etc. for at least 6 months after the operation, so Im about past half way there. But mine isnt for discs, I got a spinal fusion

roberteboot

Woah.Alot more serious than me.And i was feeling slightly sorry for myself.That puts things in perspective.Good luck with the recovery buddy.

skywalker

poobum wrote:

no...if i remember the name i will post it again! i say wings because when your arms are in the air they stick out at and under your armpit and if they are big enough i think they look like wings

Laterals aka Lats.

DAEDULUS

he even said 'they stick out when u do the lat pull down' :P

nobodythere

roberteboot wrote:

Is yours a recent injury?Ive been wondering how long the recovery will take if i treat it right(which i hadnt been doing to be honest)
Same question to Scuba Steve too.
Cheers for the replies.

No I got it playing rugby about 14 years of age (now 17), went untreated for a year and a half as my parents wouldn't take me to the doctor. Yeaaaah.... I'll never be fully healed.

nobodythere

No I've had this from playing rugby since I was 13 years old.... Take good care of it.... If there was anything in this world that I'd want it's my health