Swimming injuries. An overview

Most injuries and complaints encountered in swimming athletes are repetitive microtrauma or overuse, and successful management does not usually require surgical intervention. Rest and other measures to reduce inflammation are often required. Many injuries originate from faulty techniques or mechanisms, and an assessment must be made of the swimming biomechanics of any injured athlete to identify faults that may contribute to injury. It is also important to look at the total training programme of the athlete to identify other factors, such as weight training or dry land programmes, that may be contributing to injury. It is important to understand that, while rest or reduced training may be necessary, every effort to keep the swimmer "in the water' should be made, as cessation of training may lead to a rapid detraining effect.