I am a competitive swimmer and I need to be at swim practice everyday. My muscles have been sore for about 2 weeks and I am getting very irritated, It hurts all over. I am talking head toes and everything in between. How can I make the pain go away with out taking a break from swimming?

Chosen Answer:

People who exercise and train a LOT take very good care of their muscles for the critical hour or two right after they stop exercising. They apply cold compresses to the tendon areas they expect to be most painful, and they immediately take an anti-inflamatory such as Advil or even Naproxen (12 hours). Anti-oxidant vitamins are also used such as Vitamin A,C,E, so take a multi-vitamin along, and bring some extra chewable vitamin C tablets along with you.

If you’ve been sore for two weeks, and it’s not going away, talk to your doctor. A short course of a corticosteroid may reduce the inflamation quickly and long enough for your body to heal up. This is not the same as taking “anabolic steroids.”

Finally, even though you’re swimming, you can still tape up the area right below your kneecap, and your ankles, part of your elbow, etc… to help support your muscle movements and protect your tendons from tears. If sports tape doesn’t stick, use duct tape, and overlap it.

Do you ride a bus to the swimming pool? If so, make sure you really stretch out, especially your hips, before you swim. And take another stretch before riding home, and after… Keep limber.

When you get home, three times a week, take an epsom salts bath. It really works.

Good luck!
by: DKHM
on: 22nd November 08