Open water swimming: why your neck and shoulders feel it after a few laps

Now that the water is finally warm enough, plenty of people are back to swimming outdoors regularly, whether that is a lake, a canal or a proper open water spot. Great for your fitness, but front crawl in open water asks more of your shoulders and neck than a lazy breaststroke lap in the pool.

Why open water feels different from the pool

In open water you lift your head more often to sight, you swim against current or waves, and you miss the wall to push off and rest for a second. That means your neck and shoulders work continuously, without the small breaks you are used to in a pool. That adds up quickly, especially with front crawl, where the shoulder rotation already asks a lot.

If your neck feels stiffer than usual after a few outdoor swims, or your shoulder catches a little when you lift your arm, that build-up is usually exactly what is going on.

Where sports massage helps

A sports massage targets muscles that repeat the same movement over and over, which fits swimmers who have just started their outdoor season. If the complaint sits specifically in your shoulder, a shoulder pain treatment is often more targeted.

At Masseur Joost in Hoofddorp this also fits well after a midweek evening swim, so you do not start a new week with a stiff shoulder.