Table 4.

Swimming Soreness Rules (adapted with permission from Axe, M). Guidelines to help the swimmer recognize pain and the clinician adjust the swimming portion of shoulder rehabilitation.

If no soreness, increase 200‐300 yards each day.
If sore during warm‐up but soreness is gone within the first 500‐800 yards, repeat a similar workout from the previous day. If shoulder becomes sore during this workout, stop and take 2 days off. Upon returning to the pool, decrease yardage by 300 yards.
If sore more than 1 hour after swimming, or the next day, take 1 day off and repeat the most recent swimming workout.
If sore during warm‐up and soreness continues through the first 500‐800 yards, stop swimming and take 2 days off. Upon return to swimming, decrease yardage by 300 yards.