Swimming is a low impact workout that works your muscles, and your heart and lungs. It’s also a great option for people with arthritis, as it relieves the weight of joints without irritating painful ligaments. Many physically disabled athletes swim regularly as a way to stay in shape, and pools are increasingly making their facilities more accessible.
There are many different strokes to try, each of which works a different set of muscles. A good all-round stroke is the backstroke. It’s a full body workout, and particularly good for working the chest and shoulders (which can be a problem in people who only swim the freestyle). The front crawl and breaststroke are also good all-rounders, but the butterfly and the freestyle require more skill and can be hard on the shoulder joint.
You can get a great cardio workout by doing just a few laps of a pool, but it’s even better if you work on varying your speed and distance. If you’re a beginner, start by setting some simple goals and see how far you can go in a certain amount of time. Then, work on your technique and keep pushing yourself to go further next time.
In a competition, swimmers swim a timed race against 7 or 9 opponents. The races are usually grouped into heats, semi-finals and finals to determine who will reach the podium. The competition is a fantastic way to increase your endurance, and it’s a lot of fun too!
Swimmer’s eye
The buoyancy of water offers a low-impact workout that can be enjoyed by almost anyone, regardless of age or fitness level. As a result, swimming can help build and tone muscle, improve cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure.
Many people only think of swimming as a workout for the arms and shoulders, but in fact it’s a whole-body workout that requires lots of upper body strength, but also works the core and legs. It’s also a good way to strengthen your back and improve posture.
Swimmer’s ear
When you swim, it’s important to focus on keeping your head and neck straight in the water, and not to let your shoulders round. It may feel a bit silly, but it’ll reduce the chance of injury and will help you to achieve a more effective stroke.
Sleep improvement
Unlike some other types of exercise, swimming can help you sleep at night because it burns calories and helps you build muscle. It also promotes the release of chemicals that calm the brain and body, so it’s ideal for people who have trouble falling asleep or who suffer from chronic pain or a health condition like arthritis. In fact, research shows that regular swimming can help improve sleep for both children and adults. It can even reduce the frequency and duration of nightmares. Aim to do a few lengths of the pool before you go to bed each night, and you’ll soon notice the benefits.