Fitness worries for Prinsloo for Champs
HIGH Performance Centre (HPC) swimmer, Karin Prinsloo, suffers from a lower back injury and back spasms that might prevent her from being at her best at the South African Championships in Durban from April 13-19.
But this it is not the only dilemma Prinsloo has to face at the moment. She also has to decide when the best time will be to have her tonsils removed. After the problems she experienced at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, she does not want to be troubled by tonsils again during a major championship.
Prinsloo’s injury woes started about two weeks ago in the build-up to the Grand Prix Meeting in Stellenbosch.
“In spite of the fact that my lower back was killing me I kept on training. I competed in Stellenbosch but had to withdraw before the finals because the pain became unbearable.
“At first I thought I might be suffering from kidney stones but blood tests proved that it was not the case.
“After further tests, which included a scan, the doctor told me that I suffered from Scoliosis of the lower back and that this might be contributing to the back spasms.
“At times the pain was so bad that I could barely sit down, but thanks to the magic hands of HPC’s physiotherapists I am beginning to feel much better. I am still battling to do proper turns in the pool though.
“I don’t think I will be at my best at the South African Championships but I am confident that I will be able to swim the qualifying times for the World Championships.
“However, I will have to give careful consideration as to which events I will compete in because I don’t think I will be able to take part in as many as I did in the past.
“I will probably have my tonsils removed after the nationals, which should give me enough time to recuperate.”