5 replies to this topic

[wheelie182]

I joined the gym lately which has its own indoor pool that I'm using. I haven't been in a pool since rehab, which was 7 years ago, and that was only really treading water, so now I'm trying to learn to swim again I guess. At the moment Im doing something like the Elementary Back Stroke, except obviously minus the feet movement(I'm a t6-t7 complete paraplegic).

However, while this stroke is a really good work out, I would also like to vary it somewhat with trying the front crawl. The only real technique I've seen for someone like me is this, but my results are pretty horrible . I first tried with a float between my legs like he does in the video, but when I try to position my body flat on the waters surface, I end up with my legs nice and level, but my head/chest submerged below the water, and can't reach up to breath. I don't seem to have the stomach/chest muscles to bring that part of my body level on the water. Without the float is worse, and only my butt sticks up above the water, the rest is submerged.

Does anyone have any advice?

[Charlie-boi]

For front crawl your going to have to be pretty strong on top!! Maybe you will have to train your strength up first at the gym?? I find the technique I had to use was when the arm goes over your head and down into the water by the side of your torso giving you thrust...I started at times throwing another little paddle with that arm again under the water before the arm rises out the water again for the next stroke!! Kind of like a quick dogy paddle movement if you understand!! This is because naturally your legs usually tilt u in the right position but with our legs lagging that little paddle I call it can position you right for the next strike! Another way to keep the upper body more afloat is to maybe try and keep mire air in your lungs so look at your breathing pattern!!

[KayDub]

I swim allllll the time but I have full upper body strength, my paralysis is more equivalent to a really incomplete L 5, which includes some use of my glutes. I have developed a kicking style that probably looks better to me than the people around me. But they look like they're drowning too so their loss. Anyway until you can develop more core strength, I might suggest a kick board or boards underneath your stomach, and the floatie between your legs? This might help keep your head and shoulders up higher so you can turn to breath. I struggle with rhythmic breathing so every so often in my laps I have to stop because I'm close to swallowing water in my lungs. The best part about swimming is (in my opinion) the relative weightless (after a day of sitting in my chair or doing PT on crutches the floating feels sooo good) and that I can get a workout from it all. Don't be constrained by what the AB "back stroke" or "front crawl" is and make as many modifications as necessary, provided they're not motions than can cause more harm than good (be careful with your shoulders!). Two teenage brothers hopped in the pool the other night while I was there and were racing each other using the weirdest version of the front crawl. But hey cardio is cardio!

[ClaraTaylor]

Hey all - you're all probably sick of it but I'm still in training to swim the 22 miles in 22 days challenge starting 1st September (still aiming for doing it in 12 days or less). I've been having issues with one knee.... well now I've knackered the other one and so neither are working (which at least means I no longer swim in circles in the pool!)

Can anyone recommend what kind of float to use to hold my legs so they don't drag me down? And where to position it?

Thanks all! xxx

[Charlie-boi]

With enough speed your legs should float naturally. But good luck

[wheeliebear75]

If you lay flat on the floor, can you arch your back, extending your stomach muscles to lift your chest up without using your arms? Practice this to get the RoM (Range of Motion) & muscles strong enough. If this doesn't help it could be that your torso weighs a lot more than the legs do because that is muscular whereas your legs aren't.....rather than fighting it perhaps just having LIGHT weights on your ankles just enough to keep them from bobbing up would keep your head above the waterline?