Ear infections and swimming

July 27, 2023

Ear Infections & Ear Tubes

As a swim school owner, I am constantly being asked questions about ear infections and ear tubes as they relate to swimming. As someone that has had many kids swim with us that have ear tubes, I hope my information in this blog helps to answer some of the questions you may have.

There are two types of ear infections, inner and outer. The outer ear infection is commonly called “swimmer’s ear”, and is similar to a fungus infection. The cause of swimmer’s ear can be a combination of factors: warm or humid air, warm water, length of time spent swimming, the natural enzymatic activity in the ear canal, and the presence of bacteria. It’s more likely to happen in a bathtub when shampoo ends up in your ear canal and sits there. You will know if you or your child has swimmer’s ear because the doctor will give you external drops which can also be bought over the counter. Please note, swimmer’s ear is not easily contracted in a properly chlorinated pool.

A middle/inner ear infection often occurs in young children. It usually is a result of a cold or throat infection that travels up the Eustachian tube into the moist air pocket behind the ear drum. If the Eustachian tube is not working properly or is blocked by inflammation, the air in the middle ear is absorbed but cannot be replaced. This causes the air pressure in the inner ear to be less than the air pressure in the ear canal. The negative pressure in the middle ear causes fluid to collect there and gets clogged. Young children are more prone to this infection because their Eustachian tubes are shorter and straighter than adults and provide a super highway for bacteria. As the child grows, the angle of the tube changes and the infection has less of a chance surviving and getting to the ear. Tubes often get clogged because of teething or a cold. You will be able to spot the common symptoms which include fever, irritability, and ear discharge. In the case of an inner ear infection, you will be given antibiotics which will in most cases cure the infection.

Children with chronic ear infections sometimes have a procedure called myringotomy, or tympanotomy, performed. This is commonly known as getting an “ear tube”. The process involves making an incision in the eardrum to help drain fluid and allow an exchange of air between the middle and outer ear. Tubes, or grommets, are inserted in the incision to maintain the opening. It has often been assumed that because of this opening, children with tubes should not be allowed to swim or shower. This is untrue, and not one clinical study has shown results that indicate that swimming with tubes is harmful. Both of my kids have had ear tubes inserted because of chronic inner ear infections that could not be cured by oral antibiotics, and have enjoyed swimming throughout their life. Most ear, nose, and throat specialists support swimming while tubes are in as long the ears are protected. During normal swimming, there is seldom enough water pressure to force water through the tube.

Here at Small Fish Big Fish, we have chemically treated water which kills all bacteria, making sure that chances of contracting an outer ear infection are very low. We also use an ultraviolet light that shines throughout the water, and this is used as a secondary disinfectant measure. To date, we have never had a single documented case of a child contracting an ear infection at our school.

The takeaway from this blog should be that outer ear infections are caused by a fungus or bacteria, and can be cleared by using over the counter drops. Inner ear infections are caused when the inner ear tubes are unable to drain, and infection forms. In this case, antibiotics will be given. For those with ear tubes, Small Fish Big Fish Swim School is a safe environment to swim in, as many students have them, including my own children. I am always available to answer any questions you may have about ear infections, ear tubes, or anything else.

Swimmingly,

Melissa

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Swimming Injuries

September 12, 2023

Swimming Injuries and Treatments for Them The water is a great place to work out. Exercise keeps the body healthy, but while exercising injuries do occur, here are four common swimming injuries and how to treat them: Swimmer’s shoulder – This occurs after repeated energetic sessions as the tendons are being pressed against the bone and eventually get sore. This stretches down to the rotator cuff tendons. If it is ignored, it will result in tears. Treatments include: Resting for long periods after exercising. Icing to reduce inflammation. Warming up before sessions and stretching as a weekly treatment. Lower back pain – The butterfly and breaststroke lower back pain occurs because of vigorous body jerking with the wrong swimming technique. This lower back pain can transform into a stress fracture in the vertebrae. This injury is also commonly found in weightlifters. Treatments include: Avoiding sitting positions because they apply pressure. Gentle stretching to relieve strain in the spine. For acute pain caused by a stress fracture speak with a medical professional. Bicep Tendonitis – This comes with swimmers’ shoulder and is caused by long periods of overexertion. Taking long rest periods can prevent this injury. The symptoms include pain in the shoulder that gets worse when lifting the arm, a shooting pain moving down the upper arm, at times there is a noticeable bulge in the tendon, a warm feeling moving from the point of the pain, as well as a snapping sound coming from the shoulder. Treatments include: Icing the pain to remove swelling. Gently stretching the scapula, posterior capsule, and rotator cuff areas. Taking anti-inflammatory medication provided by a doctor. Swimmers Knee – This is known as a strain in the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL). It mostly occurs by extreme use of the breaststroke technique, which puts repeated strain on the knee. Symptoms of this injury include swelling, muscle spasms, decreased strength and movement, as well as pain in the quads or the knee. There may be a rough feeling when moving the knee. Treatments include: Gentle stretches to bring back movement. Taping the knee. Icing to reduce swelling. Exercising is the key to keep the body functioning, but doing too much or doing the technique the wrong way can lead to injuries like these. It is important to know how to treat them to get the body back in shape and keep it healthy.

Our kiddos progress thru our child centered curriculum while learning survival skills and having fun

By Melissa Taylor • July 27, 2023

Our kiddo’s progress thru our child centered curriculum while learning survival skills and having fun. Children retain what they learn when they become passionate and enjoy themselves and with repetition. At Small Fish Big Fish Swim School “Small fish become BIG fish by swimming in schools”.

Tips for Getting Your Baby Ready For Swimming Lessons

By Melissa Taylor • July 27, 2023

Splashing water is one of the most enjoyable things for babies to do, whether it is taking a bath or in the pool. But do you know when your baby should start learning how to swim? Children should start learning how to swim as early as possible. Some babies start swimming even at the age of two months. So, if you want your baby to learn how to swim at an early age then here are some tips to prepare them. Make bathing an enjoyable event Whether your baby is interested in playing in the water or not, if you want them to learn swimming as soon as possible then you will have to make it more enjoyable when they are near water. A great way to start is while taking bath. You can increase their interest in water by providing them with a warm environment and water so that they can feel more comfortable than playing with cold water. In order to make bath time a fun experience, you should enjoy it with them so that they can replicate you. To make bath time more fun for your child you can use some rubber or washable toys so that they can enjoy them while taking bath. Splash water Unexpected splashes of water are one the oldest ways to develop the interest of your child towards the water. Though it can be a bit startling for them when water enters their nose, mouth, and eyes but with time they can get used to it while taking bath regularly. You can encourage them to splash water from the bathtub in response to your splash so that they can easily understand its effects and fun. You can also expose your baby to shower nozzle by bringing it down and spraying water on their face as well as on their belly or arms so that they can experience the water’s effects more closely. Make fun after a bath After finishing the bath, instead of rushing out, you should take some time to wrap your baby in a warm towel so that they can enjoy that moment before getting dry. Now pat them gently with a towel to dry them from top to bottom and make them relax with your soft voice or a song. It will give your baby a unique experience after getting out of the water. Blowing Bubbles It can be difficult for children at a young age to understand that they have control over their breathing, making it hard to teach them how to hold their breath while swimming. The best way to show your children how to begin regulating their breathing is by blowing bubbles in the water. Demonstrate the different ways the bubbles appear depending on how hard you exhale and encourage them to do the same. Buoyancy Lessons When bathing with your child, you have an excellent opportunity to safely show them the effects of buoyancy on their body, allowing them to learn how to float. Place your child in the bathtub before it is filled with water, and then begin filling it so they can feel the water start to lift them up. Keep them from sliding under at first, and soon they will figure out how to float on their own without your assistance. Swimming lessons After introducing your baby to water in the bathtub and they feel comfortable it’s time to get some formal swimming lessons. At Small Fish Big Fish Swim School, they can get lessons from experienced Aquatic educators that specialize in working with babies. All instructors are participating in continuing education and will be taking part in an 8 hour workshop given by the United States Swim School Association. But it doesn’t stop there, we teach self-confidence, discipline and well-being through the lifelong sport of swimming. Want your baby to learn how to swim? We offer free classes for babies 6 months old or younger. The free lessons do not include cost of Small Fish Big Fish annual membership fee. Membership is required to qualify for Free lessons. You can also sign up for our Free Trial here https://www.smallfishbigfish.com/free-trial