“I thought it was the gentlest stroke of all”: why breaststroke with your head above water is a habit your spine wants you to stop
That gentle head-up breaststroke you’ve been doing? It’s silently punishing your spine with each lap. Physiotherapists are seeing a pattern of neck stiffness, shoulder tightness, and lower back pain that traces directly back to this common swimming habit—and fixing it requires just a few simple adjustments.