Acupuncture for Swimming
I treat athletes because I am one. I know what swimming demands — thousands of overhead strokes per workout, the shoulder impingement that builds silently, the neck strain from breathing patterns. I’ve been in the water enough to get it. My job is to keep you swimming, not sidelined.
Common Swimming Injuries I Treat
- Swimmer’s shoulder — rotator cuff irritation and impingement from high stroke volume. That catching ache at the top of your pull is the classic warning sign.
- Neck strain — hours of breath-turn rotation and flip-turn mechanics can lock up the cervical spine and leave you stiff long after you’ve left the pool.
- Lower back pain — butterfly and breaststroke demand serious lumbar extension, and over time the low back starts to protest.
- Knee pain (breaststrokers) — the whip kick loads the inside of the knee hard, and many breaststrokers deal with nagging medial knee pain as a result.
How I Work With Swimming Athletes
I work with swimmers using orthopedic acupuncture and dry needling to calm down angry rotator cuffs, release bound-up neck and upper-back tissue, and restore the movement you’ve lost. My assessment is sport-specific: I look at your stroke mechanics, your kick, and your training load — not just where it hurts. I also put athletes through EXSTORE testing (Examine, Restore) to determine which muscles aren’t firing properly, so treatment targets the real problem. And everything I do is aimed at return to play, with a clear plan to get you back in the pool, completing your sessions, and progressing again.
Supplements I often suggest
For swimming, these are the supplements I suggest most often in my practice:
- PerfectAmino Powder, Mixed Berry (BodyHealth) — Essential amino acids for muscle protein synthesis — no calories, won’t break a fast.
- Creatine Monohydrate Powder, Unflavored (Designs for Health) — Supports muscle growth and performance when paired with resistance training.
- OmegAvail Hi-Po Fish Oil (Designs for Health) — 1,600 mg EPA/DHA per serving with lipase for absorption — no fishy aftertaste.
See all the supplements I recommend →
I may earn a margin on dispensary orders. If you take prescription medications, check with your doctor before starting any new supplement.
Stay in the Game
Book a free intro call to talk about your swimming injury and how acupuncture can get you back out there.