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Recognition that thumbs down swimming leads to shoulder injury is coming. While a level or flat hand is an improvement, there are places or times in the stroke where your thumb could be up for better performance and health.
Recently, swimsmooth.com, a competitors' sight that I follow, eschewed thumbs down swimming because it causes shoulder pain.
http://www.feelforthewater.com/
Research says that as many as eight out of ten swimmers suffer from some level of shoulder pain or injury during their swimming careers. If you ever get shoulder pain before or after swimming, the very first thing to check is how your hand enters into the water.
A thumb first entry, with the palm facing outwards causes internal rotation of the shoulder and impingement of the joint. This action, repeated thousands of times in training, is the leading cause of shoulder injury in swimmers:
Back to Thumbs Up Swimming
Hand position can harm the shoulder. My youtube videos demonstrate this point and of course it is such a part of my break the mold philosopy that I left Total Immersion.
Like dancing and many other activities, in swimming, the finger, hand and arm lead the body. They create the line and tone for your body. Proper placement of finger, hand and arm, hence, thumbs up swimming, has these benefits: easier roll for air, reduces pressure on rotator cuff, and keeps your momentum in the water going.
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