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mattymc mattymc
 
M$5 May 21, 2009 02:42 PM

When swimming for fitness (fixed time) is it better to swim with better form and not get tired or swim with bad form and get tired faster?

I swim a few times a week to keep fit and I was talking to a friend who used to compete in swimming. He gave me some tips on form to use less energy and swim faster and for longer periods of time before getting to tired.

If my priority when swimming is for fitness and I don't have all the time in the world (usually 30-40 minutes). Does it make sense to keep improving my form or should I continue the way I am swimming now which tires me out after 45 minutes?
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dannyjohns... dannyjohns...
 
 May 21, 2009 02:57 PM
Poor form will lead to shoulder problems. Rotator cuff issues, deltoid problems and lower back pain are some of many injuries caused by poor form.

Swimmers Shoulder
http://www.allsportmedical.co.uk/first-aid-guides/swimming-injuries.aspx

Correctly known as painful arc or rotator cuff tendinitis swimmers shoulder injuries can occur when:

Ø any of the four shoulder muscles are over used
Ø there is poor blood supply to the muscles
Ø there is poor swimming technique

Better form will take a while to learn but is worth it.
Better form will lead to you being able to swim longer and faster.

I really like the Total Immersion program for learning and improving technique:

http://www.totalimmersion.net/
Source(s):
http://www.allsportmedical.co.uk/first-aid-guides/swimming-injuries.aspx
http://www.totalimmersion.net/

Asker's Rating:
• Thats a lot. I appreciate the answer. I never even considered injury!


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jeffhoard jeffhoard
 
May 22, 2009 05:07 AM
Great use of sources, great answer

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yankeeses yankeeses
 
May 21, 2009 02:55 PM
Swimming for fitness can have seevral interpretations. If your goal is fat burn then getting your body more tired out and in working your body at varying levels (wrong form) could potentially be more effective. If it is stamina that is your goal or if becoming a better swimmer in general is your goal, keeping the right form and going for extended periods of time at a constant speed requiring your body to exert a constant level of energy (correct form) would be more effective.

In the end, whichever way you are having more fun and can you see yourself doing it on a habitual basis is the better choice. When it comes to fitness, routine is extremely important.

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deems2289 deems2289
 
May 21, 2009 02:59 PM
Being a former swimmer, I learned this the hard way. I wanted to get in shape and I wanted to also become more fluent. The harder I swam (and therefore the sloppier) the less in shape i got. It was simply a cardio workout.

But when you swim with good form, it not only works your muscles the correct way, but it builds them and increases your endurance. You don't feel AS tired, because you are actually working harder.

But when you swim faster and with less form, you feel tired, because your body is not used to that workout, and the muscles aren't being used correctly.

So, stay with good form and you will not get as tired, and you will be working your body even harder!

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