Swimming

I swim for 30 minutes twice a week and I only tend to do breast stroke -is this bad for my shoulders/neck, as I have heard it can be over time?

I doubt that 30 min twice a week will do any harm.  Yes, it is better generally for the body if you can do a variety of strokes and if you can swim with your head in the water but for most people this is only an issue if they swim frequently or for long durations or if they have an existing neck or shoulder problem.

Breaststroke can also cause back and hip problems if done excessively.

30 mins twice a week doesn't sound like it could be too bad - I tend to only do breast stoke too (avoid getting my hair wet) - I'm not even sure I could still do the front crawl, I tried recently and got my breathing all mixed up.

I did 30 minutes quite regularly until recently and my muscles started to ache but it turns out I was holding myself incorrectly in the breaststroke position.  So if your shoulders do start to ache it might be because of that :)

How did you find out you were holding yourself wrong Helen? Do you have an instructor? I think I need one because I'm always aching after my swimming session.

What's the proper way to hold yourself then?

Let the water support you. Most people float perfectly well, especially with a lungfull of air. Once you are comfortable stretching out and keeping yourself streamlined, your head should naturally rise out of the water due to the change in angle of your body as you pull your arms back towards your chest and bring your legs up.

The two things I've heard of causing discomfort are "breaststroker's knee", which I think is caused over the long-term through repetition of the inward movement of the feet at the end of the kick, and a sore neck for those who like to keep their hair dry.

Ah that's interesting. I find I often go too deep into the water when doing breaststroke. It slows me down and is a bad habit that needs breaking

I really don't understand those people who go swimming but don't want to get their hair wet. It'll hurt your neck and you look like an idiot in the pool! It's like gardening without wanting to get your hands dirty.

I can understand it if you spend a lot of time doing your hair and chlorine is bad for it, but I don't spend a lot of time on mine so I'm okay!

There are also those of us who have only partially conquered a fear of water. I can swim yeah, enjoy it even, but head in, no. Not yet anyway. That first triathlon is still a long way off yet.

Have you had a traumatic water experience?

Not that I can remember, think it might be more a case of parents passing on their demons, neither of them were swimmers, both of them terrified any time we were anywhere near water.

Ah well that explains it. I don't like doing front crawl and I don't dive. I am just happy to do breast stroke for half an hour then go in the steam room!

I don't mind getting my hair wet, but I can understand people being like that as chlorine is really bad for your hair, and can make blonde hair go green too.

I don't mind getting my hair wet, although I'd rather keep my head above the water generally, so breast stoke it is!