Unfortunately I’ve been working out rather infrequntly lately. Anyway, I’ve only been swimming about once a week and after each workout the medial mucles in my forearm and the elbow joint are quite sensitive for a few days after each swim. I’ve been a regular swimmer for about 5 years now and I don’t recall an ache like this before.
Because I have been working out infrequently, the workouts are toned down with generous rest intervals, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Any advice for working through this?
It may be worth checking with a physio / sports masseuse that it’s nothing more than regular muscular workout ache.
Once that’s verified, phase in some much steadier paced swim sessions, gradually building up the distance. Include all strokes to gain a balanced workout, use fins to reduce stress when tired, do kick sets etc. Variety is the key to avoiding boredom in base training build up.
I don’t think that the rest intervals make much of a difference except to the extent that the additional rest would help you keep your form together. You are probably just swimming too much too quickly after a layoff. Ice your elbow after swimming, don’t increase yardage and think about cutting back until it gets better.