The first question you may be asking is: Is it easier or harder to swim with fins? While it can be beneficial for beginners, there are also a number of drawbacks. This article will give you the facts about swimming with fins. You will discover why swimming with fins can improve your technique and may even be beneficial for those with an ankle, knee, or leg injury.
Swimming with fins can be a great way to improve your swimming technique, but don't get too dependent on them. When swimming with fins, walk backwards, as this is the safest way to do it. Fins are also easy to maintain and require little care. Store your fins out of the sun to prevent them from drying out. They are great for technique, speed, and fitness building.
Another benefit to swimming with fins is the improved flutter kick. Most swimmers have poor kicking technique. Proper kicking technique involves pointing your toes, working your legs quickly and efficiently, and using a short range of motion. A good kick means a higher body position in the water and better propulsion. Fins can help you develop an efficient flutter kick with the use of flippers.
There are several techniques you can use to improve your swimming technique. In the beginning, you should breathe after every stroke, alternately on both sides. This will relieve strain on the shoulders and neck. During your stroke, look forward and keep your elbow up. Try to breathe as much as possible. Then, alternate between arm and leg movements. Repeat this process until you are able to breathe on either side. Eventually, you will be able to breathe on both sides at the same time.
A proper leg movement is critical for any swimmer. If you bend your knees forward to kick forward, you will end up slowing down. The right leg should be used to propel you forward, while the left leg is used to push you down. Exhaling in the water can boost your performance. A 10 degree difference between your hands and fingers will make your swimming easier and faster. If you haven't yet tried this technique, now is the time to get started.
While swimming with fins can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, it can also be detrimental if you already have an ankle, knee or leg injury. Swimmers must use all parts of their body for swimming and this is not always possible without the use of fins. Ankles, knees, legs and shoulders are the most common areas to suffer an overuse injury, but ankles account for less than 1% of swimming injuries. Shoulders and ankles make up the bulk of complaints.
Before swimming with fins, make sure your ankle is completely healed. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends the RICE protocol for sprained ankles. After a week's rest, you can begin limited activities, such as swimming. However, if your ankle is still swollen or painful, you should avoid fins altogether.
For some swimmers, swimming without fins can be a relief from their habit of wearing the fins. In fact, many swimmers who are constantly tempted to use fins during practice and competition feel that the extra resistance they get from the fins makes it easier to swim fast. Fins are also great for helping improve your swimming technique. You can swim faster without them, and you can also use them as a training aid.
When you first start swimming without fins, you may wonder how to improve your form. The first step is to decrease resistance. Then, you can work on developing your upper-body technique and body position. This is important for speed-related training, as swimming without fins requires you to use your kick to generate speed. But if you've ever had trouble stretching your ankles, swimming with long or short fins can help you improve your flexibility.