Wondering what you guys have observed with regards to flexibility and progression in our sport(s). I'm inflexible-guy (thinking of getting a team kit with a big I on front), and running has always come easily, but swimming is looking like it will be a tough egg to get in line with my other sports. The gf however is taking to swimming well, and is naturally very flexible. Any others note a direct correlation with their flexibility to how they take to a sport? Any good swimmers here that are NOT flexible?
The two key areas that real swimmers, i.e., not me, have good flexibilty is shoulders and ankles. Just target thos 2 areas. Stretch every day. I have always been chronically tight but stretching has really helped over the last few years. good ankle flexibility is basically free speed.
I was taking that approach for a bit. Now I’m thinking that there would be something wierd about being a really inflexible guy, just with super flexible ankles and shoulders. so now i’m thinking that increased flexibility will be one of my main 07 training goals.
i’m not so much interested in getting faster as in being more comfortable, less sore, healthier, etc.
-charles
I’m a good swimmer and have very flexible shoulders and ankles. I have a very tight lower back, hamstrings and hips…which i’m constantly working on.
Like someone else mentioned, if you’re looking for swimming improvement, concentrate on your shoulders and ankles.
Whole body flexibility will help you across the board, both in performance and in injury-prevention. I couldn’t touch my toes while on the HS swim team, but with a few years of dedicated stretching I got to be able to do the splits and bend my arms in some very eye-brow raising ways.
Yes, your swimming will improve by focusing on shoulders/ankles, but don’t neglect your other muscle groups. Get a nice, comprehensive set of stretches and do them, every day, after you finish working out.
-Colin
Whole body flexibility will help you across the board, both in performance and in injury-prevention.
Can you please point me to evidence of what you’re stating? Thank you.
I love stretching.
To echo others’ comments, shoulder and ankle flexibility is incredibly important for swimming. Swimming will help keep your shoulders flexible; I noticed at the beginning of November when I had to take a couple weeks off that my shoulders felt horribly tight. Now that I’m back in the pool, they’re nice and loose again!
Kicking with fins - I like zoomer fins - is a good way to work on ankle flexibility.
Wondering what you guys have observed with regards to flexibility and progression in our sport(s). I'm inflexible-guy (thinking of getting a team kit with a big I on front), and running has always come easily, but swimming is looking like it will be a tough egg to get in line with my other sports. The gf however is taking to swimming well, and is naturally very flexible. Any others note a direct correlation with their flexibility to how they take to a sport? Any good swimmers here that are NOT flexible?
Depends on what you consider to be a “good swimmer”. I’m a human barge in the water. No shoulder flexibility whatsoever, no other flexibility anywhere else, either. Can’t touch my toes to save my life. I can point my toes reasonably well. Best swim times (all SCY free unless otherwise noted) are 23.1 50, 51.2 100, 1:53 200, 5:17 500, 29.5 50 breast, 1:04.9 100 breast, 58.8 100 IM, all at about age 32, and I started at 26.
Wow. Those are seriously good swim times for only starting at age 26. Awesome!
-C
Wow. Those are seriously good swim times for only starting at age 26. Awesome!
-C
I don’t know anyone else who’s first 50 free in a race was lower than their age (:26.59 vs. ~26.7 years old), but I also don’t know anyone that cares.
Whole body flexibility will help you across the board, both in performance and in injury-prevention.
Can you please point me to evidence of what you’re stating? Thank you.
Overflexability will certainly harm you, especially in high impact sports like running. There is a reasonable amount of flexability that one should strive to keep, but beyond that, I have decided that too much stretching is a baaaaad thing. A certain amount of tightness is required to preserve your body alignment without stressing your muscles.
Also, I’d like to add that the disparity of physical abilities is what makes triathlon such a challenge. The fastest swimmers tend to be the most flexible, and too much flexibility can be a detriment especially in running. My step-sis is like this - double jointed knees and shoulders make her an awesomely fast, effortless swimmer, but her knees can’t take the run training it would require to become good at triathlon. She can bike like the dickens too.
Also, I’d like to add that the disparity of physical abilities is what makes triathlon such a challenge. The fastest swimmers tend to be the most flexible, and too much flexibility can be a detriment especially in running. My step-sis is like this - double jointed knees and shoulders make her an awesomely fast, effortless swimmer, but her knees can’t take the run training it would require to become good at triathlon. She can bike like the dickens too.
Raises the question; just how well can the dickens bike?
Thanks for the answers folks. Truly a variety of experiences and, not surprisingly, advice. I’m off to look for strtching routines, but with the hope that even if great flexibility never comes, I should be able to learn to swim well.
What constitutes overflexibility?
I’m not double-jointed or anything like that - but I am really flexible.
Charles Dickens was quite the athlete. He could probably ride pretty fast, but would undoubtedly be slowed by needing to dodge street urchins.
-C
It is my understanding that proper stretching plays as much a role as proper nutrition/electrolytes in avoiding cramps.
-C
It is my understanding that proper stretching plays as much a role as proper nutrition/electrolytes in avoiding cramps.
-C
Really? By what mechanism?
As for the initial question, here’s an interesting paper:
…and another one:
…and a more recent paper with a very “readable” abstract:
It is my understanding that proper stretching plays as much a role as proper nutrition/electrolytes in avoiding cramps.
-C
Well, I agree with that statement…but probably not for the reasons that you think…