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Swimming breaststroke

Posted , 15 users are following.

sandra67350
sandra67350

I am going on holiday soon and really looking forward to swimming every day. Only stroke I enjoy is breaststroke. I have been given no advice from surgeon or health care staff but have read on here and other places that we shouldn't do it after THR or in earlier stages. I will be 11 weeks post op when I get there.

I have come across a study that says that 100% of surgeons they contacted said it was ok as soon as wound was healed enough. Health care people only 17% said it was ok. They did research and couldn't find one dislocation resulting from swimming breaststroke. Their conclusion was that the muscles this stroke uses were the very ones we need strengthening and therefore this stroke should actually be encouraged not discouraged.

Would like to hear what fellow hippies:

1. have been told by and by who

2. have done when they've gone swimming.

Just interested in others views.

Sandra

0 likes, 37 replies

37 Replies

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  • michael11283
    michael11283 sandra67350

    Posted

    Sandra

    I don't recall being given any advice re breast stroke but I just found it uncomfortable. (that was with my original THR) now I've had the revision I think I have more lateral movement than before but I've not tried swimming yet but will be interested to see how it feels.

    I had thought I should persevere with crawl but I only ever swim on holiday so haven't bothered.

    Good luck

    Mike

  • YoungHipBionic
    YoungHipBionic sandra67350

    Posted

    Hi Sandra,

    My therapists recommended water therapy (swimming and water exercises) as soon as the incision was healed.  Swimming is a low impact activity that is really good for arthritis or joint replacements (once your limitations are removed of course!).  The rule of thumb that they told me was just to listen to my body.  If something doesn't feel right don't do it.  Swimming is great for strengthening those little muscles (and the big ones) that we require daily for balance and normal functioning.

    Just start off easy the first day and see how you feel the next.

    After my first hip replacement I would do deep end laps.  Just swimming around (with all different kinds of strokes) to help build muscle and get my ROM (range of motion) back.  I had to wait longer then when my incision was closed however because I had my limitations (no twisting, crossing, etc.) until 3 months due to weight barring and my surgery particulars (bone grafts) and swimming would have definitely broken my limitations.

    I also worked in shallow water (in a lake) after my second hip replacement to work out.  There are lots of exercises that you can do (basically anything you do on land) in the water.   Note: for the lake I had a small cut near my incision (my dog scratched me) so I put new skin over it so it didn't get dirty/infected.  Just in case you have anything like that.  It's good to keep it safe.

    I hope you enjoy your holiday!!

    Kaitlyn

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    • sandra67350
      sandra67350 YoungHipBionic

      Posted

      Hi kaitlyn

      Thank you very much for that. Very helpful. There is so much conflicting advice on the Internet I think the only thing to do is listen to my own body and just do what feels ok at the time.

      Sure it's probably the same with many medical things but there is so much confusing/conflicting info out there about everything. Suppose it's because we are all individuals.

      Sandra x

  • judith12644
    judith12644 sandra67350

    Posted

    Hi Sandra, I like swimming, but I'm rubbish at crawl. At about 8 weeks I swam with breast stroke arms and crawl legs, but it wasn't particularly successful. Afterwards my hip was a bit achy, so I left it for a while.

    I bumped into my surgeon at about 5 months the post op, and he said breaststroke swimming, with frog leg kick was fine. I started doing that from about 6 months, and now I swim regularly. It feels very comfortable. (Much better than pre op!)

    Hope you have a great holiday, enjoy the sun! Where are you going?

    • sandra67350
      sandra67350 judith12644

      Posted

      Thanks Judith. I'm going to Lanzarote.

      Did the surgeon mean from then (5 months) or you could of done it earlier?

      I'm really torn between trying it and not. I only tend to swim on holiday and last year I had to sit on sunbed watching other half as I couldn't go in as I'd had cataract procedure a week before I went. I am so looking forward to swimming but although can do crawl I can't do it for long.

      Sandra

    • judith12644
      judith12644 sandra67350

      Posted

      Hi Sandra, I think the surgeon didn't mean from 5 months, it's just that I happened to bump into him then. So earlier would probably have been fine, but maybe 11 weeks is a bit too soon. Did you have posterior? I can't remember. Perhaps as you can do crawl a bit, you should stick with that this holiday. I'm like you, used to mainly swim when I was away, so I didn't actually try breast stroke until I was in Tenerife, about 6 months post op. Now I'm enjoying it so much I'm swimming several times a week. (I'm lucky, there's a massive heated lido just nearby, and it's open early morning all year round )

      Hope you have a really lovely time in Lanzarote, take care, love Judith

    • sandra67350
      sandra67350 judith12644

      Posted

      Hi Judith

      I had posterior.

      I phoned surgeon yesterday. He wasn't available but spoke to someone else there. She said that it's true some surgeons say 'yes' some 'no'. She wasn't sure what my surgeons view was but said....

      Even if you're allowed is it worth taking the chance of ending up in a foreign hospital and ruining your holiday? Especially it's not about going/nor going in pool, just what you can do in there.

      She has added a note to my records that she advised not to. Therefore suppose it's crawl and doggy paddle for me haha

      Sandra x

    • judith12644
      judith12644 sandra67350

      Posted

      Hi Sandra, just replied to you, and then lost it! So now trying again.... I think the surgeon would have been fine with breast stroke swimming earlier, it's just that I happened to bump into him 5 months post op, and asked him then.

      I was like you, mainly swam when I was away, so I didn't actually try until I was in Tenerife 6 months post op.

      11 weeks is quite early, and I think try it very gently, or stick to your crawl for this holiday. (Can't remember, did you have posterior?) I'm swimming several times a week now, because it's good exercise., and low impact on the joints. I'm lucky because there's a massive lido nearby and it's heated all year round for early morning lane swimming.

      Hope you have a great time in Lanzarote, take it steadily, love Judith

  • christine78455
    christine78455 sandra67350

    Posted

    Hi, I was told not to do breast stroke.  I think breast stroke arms and crawl legs is a good idea. Also back stroke is good if you get tired.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 sandra67350

    Posted

    Hi Sandra ....

    DON'T FORGET TO REQUEST AIRPORT ASSISTANCE  --- distance to /from  departure area are longer than you think - 

    I really hesitated at first but was so happy I did ... it is a wonderful service from the airport - 

    big warm hug

    renee

    • sandra67350
      sandra67350 renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee

      Thank you for that advice. I just called airport and booked assistance. Like you I was dithering about it. I'm so glad already I did as apparently I go to special assistance check in so I don't have to queue at both ends.

      I remember last year's trip was a killer coming back as plane docked at furthest out gate.........I should of got assistance then I was in agony.

      Thank you very much

      Sandra x

    • judith12644
      judith12644 sandra67350

      Posted

      Hi Sandra, sorry that boring message of mine came twice! I'm having a bit of trouble with the website at the moment.

      I think you're exactly right, no point at all in risking your hip and ruining your holiday. You can still have a good time in the pool, doing a bit of crawl, and dabbling around. Have fun! X

  • jillypops
    jillypops sandra67350

    Posted

    Hi Sandra - just back from my holiday and gentle frog kick worked for me.

    Just thought i'd let you know that my bed was v hard and sleeping on side was impossible - felt like lying on a monkey wrench!! Might be worth contacting the place you are staying to see if beds are firm. If so, perhaps request a mattress topper? Back in own bed last night - slept like a baby! 😀 Hope you have a lovely holiday. X

    • sandra67350
      sandra67350 jillypops

      Posted

      Thanks Jilly.

      Good news about swimming. Will see what happens when I get there. Hope you had a great holiday other than hard bed !!!! yes will ask for topper on check in along with a non slip mat for shower if over the bath. Arranged assistance at airport. All set and raring to go now, can't wait

      Sandra x

    • jillypops
      jillypops sandra67350

      Posted

      I did thanks - just the job after the op.

      Brilliant!! Have fun! 😎 x

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