🟦 Swim Stronger, Recover Smarter: Chiropractic for Swimmers — How Chiropractic Can Elevate Their Stroke

🏊 Swimmer’s Shoulder: More Than Just Overuse

A frequent issue among swimmers, swimmer’s shoulder often presents as pain at the front of the shoulder. Though this pain is sometimes caused by tendinopathy of the biceps tendon, it’s more commonly due to impingement and degeneration of the supraspinatus tendon—a key rotator cuff muscle that helps stabilize the shoulder during strokes.

Historically, impingement was blamed on anatomical structure. However, current research and clinical insight suggest that muscle weakness, neuromuscular imbalance, poor stroke mechanics, thoracic spine immobility, and mental fatigue are far more significant contributors.

A professional swim chiropractor understands how these functional factors contribute to injury—and more importantly, how to correct them.

🌊 The Kinetic Chain of Swimming: Thoracic Spine, Scapula, Shoulder

A successful swim stroke begins with proper thoracic spine mobility. Without adequate extension and rotation, the body cannot perform the rolling motion needed for powerful freestyle and backstroke. When thoracic mobility is limited, the body compensates through the shoulder, resulting in poor shoulder blade positioning and overuse of the rotator cuff.

Swimmers often exhibit weakness in the scapular stabilizers, which causes the shoulder blade to shift into a forward and upward position. This narrows the subacromial space, contributing to impingement. A swim chiropractor will assess and correct scapular alignment and thoracic spine posture to support healthy mechanics throughout the stroke cycle.

A key clinical marker we look for is the position of the scapula at rest. If the medial border sits more than three fingers away from the spine, it signals instability and potential dysfunction. Additionally, during motion, if the scapula doesn’t rotate and protract properly, it indicates weakness in muscles like the serratus anterior, which is essential for late-stage propulsion and shoulder elevation.

💪 How Overtraining and Muscle Imbalances Lead to Dysfunction

Many swimmers unintentionally overtrain their pectorals while neglecting opposing muscles like the middle and lower trapezius. This imbalance contributes to rounded shoulders and thoracic kyphosis, compromising shoulder blade movement and increasing stress on the rotator cuff.

Swimmers trying to increase propulsion often attempt to lengthen their stroke, especially when using hand paddles. While this can enhance reach, it also places the shoulder in a vulnerable position—adduction combined with internal rotation—which can reduce blood flow (hypovascularity) to the supraspinatus muscle, increasing the risk of tendinopathy.

At Aquarius Chiropractic, we offer chiropractic for swimmers that focuses on balancing these opposing muscle groups, restoring proper posture, and reinforcing motor control.

🔍 The Neuromuscular Foundation: It’s Not Just About Strength

One of the most important yet neglected aspects of swim training is stabilizer muscle control. These small, deep muscles provide the foundation for shoulder motion but often go unnoticed because:

• They’re difficult to isolate without expert evaluation.

• Their movements are subtle and require slow, controlled training, which contrasts with the high-intensity focus of most swim workouts.

As a swim chiropractor, Dr. Gerrard emphasizes that true performance comes from pairing powerful gross movements with finely tuned motor control—much like tuning a radio. Fast, forceful swimming only becomes efficient and injury-free when it’s underpinned by precise, controlled activation of the stabilizers.

🌊 Soft Tissue Therapy: Enhancing Recovery and Function

In addition to spinal joint adjustments, we incorporate soft tissue techniques such as Active Release Techniques (ART) and Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (SASTM), which are crucial in treating chronic tightness and fascial adhesions.

Swimmers often carry restrictions in:

• Pectoral muscles (especially minor), which limit shoulder flexion and contribute to forward shoulder posture.

• Rhomboids and upper traps, which can overcompensate when the lower traps and serratus are underperforming.

• Biceps and deltoid fascia, often overused due to improper scapular rhythm.

Our chiropractic for swimmers protocol addresses these layers of dysfunction, improving blood flow, tissue elasticity, and neuromuscular activation.

📍 Why Choose Aquarius Chiropractic as Your Swim Chiropractor

Located in the heart of Vancouver, Aquarius Chiropractic supports swimmers from across the city—from open-water competitors at Kits Beach, youth athletes training at UBC Aquatic Centre, to Olympic Swimmers. Our swim-specific care goes beyond symptom relief, providing proactive strategies for injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Here’s why we’re trusted for chiropractic amongst swimmers:

• We provide sport-specific chiropractic assessments and functional testing.

• We understand stroke mechanics and swimmer-specific pathologies.

• We integrate soft tissue therapy with joint manipulation and corrective exercise.

• We support athletes across all levels, including collaboration with swim coaches and trainers.

📈 Real Results: Stronger Strokes, Healthier Shoulders

Athletes under our care report:

• Reduction in shoulder and upper back pain

• Improved thoracic spine mobility and scapular rhythm

• Better stroke mechanics and endurance

• Faster post-training recovery

🎯 Swim with Power, Precision, and Confidence

Don’t let shoulder pain or faulty biomechanics keep you out of the water. Whether you’re dealing with a nagging injury or looking to fine-tune your performance, our comprehensive chiropractic for swimmers protocols can help you reach your full potential.

👉 Book your session today with Aquarius Chiropractic, Vancouver’s go-to swim chiropractor, and take the next step toward smoother, stronger, and smarter swimming.

🔗 Further Reading & Resources

• Shoulder Injuries in Swimming: Risk Factors and Prevention

• Swimming Biomechanics and Performance