When looking to get into a sport, swimming is one a lot of people opt for. If you don’t like team sports, swimming is the perfect choice for you as it can be done solitarily or with friends. Aside from the optional social aspect, swimming has some great health benefits.
How is swimming good for your health and why?
The NHS recommends that adults do 150 minutes of moderate activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Swimming is great for hitting these targets as it works your whole body and cardiovascular system.
Swimming is a fantastic way to burn calories and lose weight. By utilising the different swimming strokes, you are using almost all the muscles in your body to push against some gentle water resistance. This will help to tone you all over your body.
Not only is swimming great for burning calories and getting your heart pumping, but it is also beneficial in other aspects of your life. Your chances of getting a good night’s sleep increase after swimming. You may also notice a boost in your mood as exercising releases endorphins.
Why is it especially good for someone with an injury?
Swimming is great for people with some restrictions when it comes to exercising. Conditions such as arthritis, sciatica and sprains can be helped with swimming as it is a low-impact sport. This means that, unlike running, the pressure put on your joints is lower and less damaging.
People with asthma can also benefit from swimming. The humid air that you end up breathing when swimming is helpful for asthmatic lungs as is the type of breathing associated with swimming. Periods of holding your breath may help to expand your lung capacity over time and get in control of your breathing.
For more severe injuries, the buoyancy of being in a pool allows you to complete movements with less strain on your muscles and joint. One example of this is people recovering from a brain injury. Whilst you are waiting for your brain injury claim to come to fruition, you may want to start water therapy to start your recovery journey.
What is active recovery?
Active recovery is where you are still using exercise as a way to cool down. Swimming is perfect for active recovery as it is less taxing on your body whilst also working the majority of your muscle groups. Being in the water adds a cooling aspect to lower your body temperature.
You may want to do a session in the gym focusing on weights and cardio and then jump into the pool for a winding-down swim. The nutrient-rich blood that is circulating from the gym will be pumped to your muscles to help them recover whilst reducing lactic acid buildup and delayed onset muscle soreness.
