Swimming...need some advice

sabreena
sabreena Member Posts: 13
edited 17. Mar 2010, 19:13 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi everyone
Just really wanted your opinons on this i've always been told swimming is the best exercise for my psoriatic arthritis but have always put it off, but finally i went last friday and i think i did way to much but it's been three days now and i'm still in agony, knee is swollen like a football, backs aching, i really don't want to give up but can't cope with feeling like this.
Any advice, anyone else experienced this and has now okay????

Thanks
Sabreena

Comments

  • barbara01
    barbara01 Member Posts: 85
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sabreena

    I have RA and swim at least 2 times a week, for me it is the only excercise that doesn't hurt my joints. The water supports the joint and therefore enables me to move through a range of movements to keep them supple. When I get out of the pool I always feel much less stiff than when I got in. i think the water temperature makes a difference though, I belong to a gym at a local hotel which heats the pool to 29/30 degrees so its kind to my body, but I know some of the local pools are much colder and I dont think that would be very good for you. I also use the sauna as I find the heat very soothing. Hope that helps.

    Barbara
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sabreena wrote:
    Hi everyone
    Just really wanted your opinons on this i've always been told swimming is the best exercise for my psoriatic arthritis but have always put it off, but finally i went last friday and i think i did way to much but it's been three days now and i'm still in agony, knee is swollen like a football, backs aching, i really don't want to give up but can't cope with feeling like this.
    Any advice, anyone else experienced this and has now okay????

    Thanks
    Sabreena

    Hi Sabreena

    I am sorry to read that you are suffering after going swimming. I too fear that you overdid things. :oops: I wonder how long you were in the pool and what exactly you were doing. Was it loads of swimming, rather than floating, or perhaps simple exercises with the bar with a little gentle swimming included. I wonder what swim stroke you favour.....

    I do hope when you feel able, you will continue but perhaps be more gentle on yourself and build up the swimming and time you are in the pool, gradually.

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • sabreena
    sabreena Member Posts: 13
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Elna, Barbara

    I did about 25 widths, don't know if that's too much but was in the pool for about 1hr, am hoping to go this week but thought i would do 30 minutes which hopefully won't be so hard on my body.

    Any reason why you think my back would be hurting??
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sabreena wrote:
    Thanks Elna, Barbara

    I did about 25 widths, don't know if that's too much but was in the pool for about 1hr, am hoping to go this week but thought i would do 30 minutes which hopefully won't be so hard on my body.

    Any reason why you think my back would be hurting??

    Hi Sabreena

    I think that if you had not done any swimming for a long time and then without any warm up did 25 widths that was probably a bit OTT. I do not go swimming myself but I would have thought starting any exercise should be done gradually and then build it up from there. You may well have used muscles in your back that have not been stretched/used for some time.

    I think 30 minutes would be better to begin with. I hope this time you will not ache so much afterwards.

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • barbara01
    barbara01 Member Posts: 85
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sabreena

    I think an hour is probably too long particularly if the water is not very warm as your muscles will get cold if you are not swimming very fast, if you find the swimming hard try walking through the water this is something quite often used in water aerobics and is very good for the leg muscles as well because of the resistance of the water. Breaststroke kick can agravate your knees because you have to turn them outwards to kick. If your back is hurting it may be because your positioning is not very good while you are swimming try not too keep you head too far out of the water as this will push your back down. Good Luck.

    Barbara
  • bailey27
    bailey27 Member Posts: 689
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    I have been told swimming is good but to be honest doesnt really appeal to me.
    I always find that when i go swimming my back plays up terrible and worse than just going in the gym and doing gentle resistance work.
    I struggle to lift me head out of the water when doing breast stroke as the muscles and bottom of neck and top of back a so tight. When trying front crawl to lift me head sides ways by lower back hurts and i end up with my legs sinking.
    The only time i like to swim is if I can run in the water up and down but i often get funny looks when i do this.
  • sabreena
    sabreena Member Posts: 13
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Starting to feel a little ok during the day now but still bad by night, going back tomorrow so i hope i'm not going to suffer as much, thanks for all your responses.
    :lol:
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi it is very easy to over do it in the water - as at the time you just enjoy the ease of movement. Although your body is supported by the water you are also working against the water resistance. Start with very little and build up.

    I remember once after I had recovered from my last THR and before the OA set in in the other hip - I went swimming and did lots of lengths. The next day at school I really struggled to lift my arm above my head to write the date on the board - and that was with a totally healthy limb ...

    Speedalong
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • sabreena
    sabreena Member Posts: 13
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi speedalong

    I've really cut back in how much i'm doing but still really struggling, my knee was really stiff in the water while swimming and then next day even worse, not sure what to do, don't really want to give it up.
  • tanith
    tanith Member Posts: 175
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sabreena wrote:
    Hi speedalong

    I've really cut back in how much i'm doing but still really struggling, my knee was really stiff in the water while swimming and then next day even worse, not sure what to do, don't really want to give it up.

    Try on your back with gentle kicking you can either use your arms for a gentle back stroke or just let them float beside you.. its better than giving up and you might find your leg muscles get stronger

    I do know that if you are doing breast stroke the strain of holding up your head is really bad for neck and back.. you are really meant swim with your face in the water just coming up to breath between strokes.. that way there is no pressure on your neck..
    Our worst times are always our best lessons.
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sabreena - maybe you haven't given your body enough time to recover from the last swimming marathon!!
    I remember when I was trying to build up my muscles on the exercise bike. I did a short session and paid for it. I kept up regular practices remembering from my aerobics days (long gone!) that more of the same was said to be the answer. No gain without pain etc And I was so determined to get back on a real bike again. I paid all summer and whilst surfing (internet not sea!!) read that you should let the muscles totally recover before trying again and that I had been making things worse.

    Do you have any physio exercises that you could do in the water and then follow the floating advice and maybe let your legs float and use your arms until you have let your muscles recover? I think you need some advice from a physio. Also is the pool warm enough?

    Speedalong

    PS did you do any warm up exercises first/ apply a wheatpack first etc?
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • swimfreak
    swimfreak Member Posts: 1
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sabreena wrote:
    Hi everyone
    Just really wanted your opinons on this i've always been told swimming is the best exercise for my psoriatic arthritis but have always put it off, but finally i went last friday and i think i did way to much but it's been three days now and i'm still in agony, knee is swollen like a football, backs aching, i really don't want to give up but can't cope with feeling like this.
    Any advice, anyone else experienced this and has now okay????

    Thanks
    Sabreena
    hi sabreena i to suffer from pa and started swimming that was about 8 years ago i started doing about 15 mins to 30 mins per week now i swim between 8- 10 hrs .Swollen knee sore back sounds like you were swimming breast stroke people without arthritis suffer the same symptoms when swimming breaststroke if using incorrect technique start with gentle backcrawl then some frontcrawl also use floats for leg kick or arms only .Get some lessons and enjoy the water
    good luck