Ear pain is a general complaint, but in fact the causes for the discomfort can range widely. Swimming is an activity in which your ear potentially comes in contact with chemicals, bacteria and viruses that may be lurking in the water. Some types of ear pain are signs of infection, which can be made worse by swimming, while other non-infective causes do not affect your workout at all. Your doctor can diagnose your ear condition and determine if swimming is safe during your recovery.
Ear Infection
Otitis media, or middle ear infection, occurs when fluid builds up in the ear, usually after you have caught a cold. The pain you feel is deep within the ear, and you might experience a weeping of fluids from the ear. This type of ear infection may or may not require antibiotics for healing; some minor ear infections resolve themselves. If your ear pain continues without relief or worsens, visit your doctor for a diagnosis and a prescription. This type of ear pain should keep you out of the pool until healed, as keeping your ear dry can prevent further infection.
Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's ear is technically called otitis externa, but its more colloquial term stems from the fact that swimming, or more accurately, exposure to water, is a main cause of the condition. Swimmer's ear is a bacterial infection that occurs when water gets caught in your ear canal and is colonized with bacteria. You may experience ear pain, itching and pus drainage. Like a middle ear infection, swimmer's ear is treated with antibiotic medications, usually in the form of an ear drop. To maintain the effectiveness of the drops, keeping your ear dry is a must. You may be able to wear a bathing cup to protect your ears -- unless you consistently keep your head submerged while swimming.
Referred Pain
Sometimes pain in your ear is not actually coming from your ear and is referred pain that originates in another area of your body. One example of referred pain occurs in people who have TMJ, or temporomandibular joint syndrome. TMJ is a joint condition affecting your jaw; main symptoms include pain and cracking sounds in your jaw when you chew or yawn. Headaches and ear pain can also be symptoms related to TMJ. Swimming should not be a problem for most people who have referred ear pain, as long as they physically feel up to the task.
Airplane Ear
Airplane ear is the term given to the pressure and pain you feel in your ears after changing altitudes abruptly, such as when you are traveling by air. You may also feel a similar pain when your Eustachian tubes are blocked due to nasal congestion. Unless you have a diagnosis of an ear infection that requires treatment, swimming and participating in other sports is acceptable.
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