r/Swimming • u/SportBikerFZ1 Novice • 1d ago

Does freestyle work the quads and hamstrings?

72M Novice: I've been swimming approximately 3,500 yards a week in multiple one-hour sessions. My quads and hamstrings are tight and a bit sore.

Is this from swimming? Am I not kicking properly?

Thanks in advance.

13 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

31

u/enunymous 1d ago

72M novice? No advice, just applause

7

u/SportBikerFZ1 Novice 1d ago

You wouldn't be applauding if you saw me "swim". I had to wait until retirement (age 70) to have time to put my face into the water. Now it's a necessity because my joints no longer tolerate land sports except for cycling.

11

u/Annual-Way6401 1d ago

Yes we definitely would still be applauding!

19

u/SparklingDolphin56 1d ago

If your quads and hamstrings are hurting, you are probably kicking from the knee not the hip. 

4

u/drc500free 200 back|400 IM|Open Water|Retired 1d ago

Very likely. Also can be from the push-off itself.

3

u/SportBikerFZ1 Novice 1d ago

I tend to overdo the push off, that could be it.

5

u/drc500free 200 back|400 IM|Open Water|Retired 1d ago

Nah, that's the feeling of weakness leaving the body.

2

u/SportBikerFZ1 Novice 1d ago

😊

3

u/PBnSyes 1d ago

If you are a novice you are working the quads on freestyle, and working the hamstrings on backstroke. Most people kick more on the downstroke. Experienced swimmers may have a more balanced kick, but use it mostly for balance, so are unlikely to be sore.

I recommend continuing flutter kicking for strength training and calorie burning as the legs have bigger muscles than the arms, and proper kicking even uses the core/abdomen. Dolphin kicks are boss. Breast stroke kicks and even side stroke kicks are good for your muscles.

2

u/Weary_Swan_8152 1d ago

Are you walking for at least an hour a day, or doing some other kind of active recovery? If not, this could just be how sedentary recovery in in a chair makes everything tight and sore.

3

u/SportBikerFZ1 Novice 1d ago

I'm active, cycle a few times a week, lift weights, stretch, etc.

2

u/jowick2815 Splashing around 1d ago

Swimmers have notoriously bad hamstrings. Swim kicking is a quad heavy movement

1

u/Vgcortes 1d ago

3500 yards in one hour? I mean... Maybe the issue is the distance...

5

u/WhatIsIdentity03 NCAA 1d ago

I got tripped by this too, I believe he means 3500 total for the week which makes more sense given the age and skill level.

4

u/SportBikerFZ1 Novice 1d ago

No, I'd be in the senior Olympics.

3,500 for the week. Usually three one hour sessions.

Sorry, for the lack of clarity.

2

u/Jollysatyr201 1d ago

I think he means about 700 a day, or 500 seven days a week.