Beyond being a great way to relax, refreshing body and mind, and even a good family activity, swimming can also contribute greatly to maintaining our health
Almost anyone can start at any time, as swimming is perhaps the only sport that does not depend on age or fitness level. What's more, besides being fun, keeping you fit and supporting weight loss, swimming can be a useful part of staying healthy and is an effective way to relieve stress. Let's look at our further reasons why it is worth going to the pool at least once a week.
- Unlike running or cycling, swimming works not only certain parts of the body and muscle groups but the whole body. The lower and upper body are put under equal effort, and staying on the surface also requires the postural muscles to work. Front crawl is the best, because the torso has to stay straight to perform the arm strokes and leg kicks, which is helped by the tensed muscles of the abdomen, hips, thighs and back. But of course, the more strokes we try, the more ways we can challenge and exercise our bodies.
- Like running, walking or cycling, swimming is an endurance sport. It boosts and speeds up the metabolism and has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Because the heart and blood vessels have to deliver larger amounts of oxygen and energy to the skeletal muscles, the heart muscle and its capillary network are strengthened. This not only improves the oxygen supply to the heart and blood vessels but also reduces the risk of heart attack.
- It is no coincidence that swimming is often called the sport of the lungs. It not only develops breathing but also makes it more balanced, since keeping the rhythm of breathing in and out is essential for correct swimming technique. In no other sport is breath control so important, so this technique develops the lungs and the respiratory system. Specialists often recommend swimming for people with asthma too, as it relieves the symptoms.
- Exercising in water is often recommended after injuries or for people with joint conditions. With good reason: the buoyancy of the water supports the joints, so moving in the pool puts far less strain on them. In water, even muscles or bones that are not entirely healthy can perform movements that would cause problems on dry land when recovering from an accident or living with a joint condition. In addition, the repeated movements of the strokes increase muscle flexibility.
- Rhythmic, even movement in water – when done correctly – benefits not only the joints but also the spine, and improves posture. The water reduces tension in the muscles, the forced and often poor posture disappears, and in the pool the body can take on its natural shape and find its balance. Specialists also often recommend swimming and exercising in water for musculoskeletal disorders.
- Swimming is also highly recommended for anyone who wants to lose weight. An hour of swimming burns 500–700 calories, most of all during butterfly and breaststroke. What is more, thanks to the buoyancy of the water, there is no need to fear sports injuries even if you start training while carrying excess weight.
- Regular swimming sessions can lay the foundations for the health not only of our body but also of our mind. The rhythmic, even breathing technique goes a long way towards relieving stress, while the monotony of swimming lengths helps switch off the brain. Floating in water has a calming, stress-relieving effect.
- By speeding up the flow of oxygen in the blood vessels, we do good not only to our heart but also to our brain. Receiving more oxygen, the brain works faster and more “smoothly” after a workout, and learning and mental work come more easily.
Source: termalfurdo.hu