Ive just started swimming but find i am in pain and get really bad headaches after but im not sure weather to carry on through the pain because its just where my muscles are getting used to it and need to get stronger rhen it will help me because i feel healthier but a bit tired or wether its bad for chiari and i should stop x
Swimming is good. Chronic breath-holding and neck extension are bad(so, most normal swim strokes, e.g. freestyle and breast). Try a low impact activity in which your neck is in a neutral position(stationary bike, walking, back stroke).
I've ended up operating on a number of patients whose symptoms were initiated by chronic neck extension(e.g. playing on the offensive line on a football team).
I totally agree with Dr. Trumble.
I was a swimmer and dove competitively from a 10 yrs old to age 22 yrs old. You hold your neck up even doing the back stroke. I have problems with free and breast from my c spins issues. It is very sad for me I even tried simple dives twice and will never do that again. The only thing that does not bother me is snorkeling and walking in water for exercise. This has hurt me so very bad. I loved working out & was very active and played every sport coming and going & now can't walk through a Warehouse store or large grocer without neck pain. I am thankful for being alive, but this is hard and I have mourned this part of my life. Every exercise uses your neck muscles some way. I am usually really positive but this topic is my Achilles heel and breaks my heart every time my mind goes there.
Thank you eveyone for your help x i am goibg to try and persavere even with the pain because i need to excersise for other helth issues and find other fitness training hurts more but i will try swimming on my back alot more it feels easier x
I have been swimming for 20+ years, prior to the diagnosis, and continue. Kind of feel like its the only thing I can do and I love it. I take a deep water aerobic class but if in the middle I feel like I can’t do something I just deep water jog around the pool. It’s the only way I can get stretched out and unkinked!