The health benefits of swimming
Swimming: the ideal exercise that’s suitable for everyone, whatever their ability. Here we take a look at the health benefits and why some people have taken swimming one step further.
Accessible to most, swimming is the ultimate exercise that is so beneficial for our bodies without putting pressure on our joints and can help us feel good too.
So what exactly are the health benefits of swimming?
There are numerous ways that swimming can boost health. Here are just a few of them:
Swimming burns calories
Just 30 minutes of swimming can burn around 200 to 350 calories (depending on the stroke and how much effort you put in). Did you know a fast front crawl can burn as many calories as an 8.5mph run?
Swimming versus working out on land
Research suggests that 30 minutes swimming can be worth 45 to 60 minutes or working out on land. This is because water is 800 times denser than air so enabling you to work harder and burn more calories.
Swimming for all
Swimming is ideal exercise for people with disabilities, injuries or illnesses as 90% of your bodyweight is supported in water. So for those suffering from conditions such as arthritis, it is the perfect form of exercise.
Swim for just 30 minutes a week
Research suggests that swimming for 30 minutes at least once a week can help us live longer.
Swimming is good for our mental health
There are proven psychological benefits to swimming. People who swim regularly show significantly less anxiety, depression and anger compared to before. This may be due to the release of endorphins which are the body’s own ‘feel good’ hormones.
Swimming works out the heart and lungs
Swimming increases the rate at which the blood circulates around the body leading to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Swimming can improve liver and kidney function
As exercise strengthens the heart, this in turn enables oxygen to circulate around the body and all the vital organs more efficiently.
Swimming improves muscles and strength
Swimming will tone muscles and help to make you stronger.
Open water swimming
There’s a recent growing trend for outdoor swimming which people say, along with improving fitness, greatly improves their mental health. This claim, along with others, has been corroborated by Wildswimming.co.uk, who also state that over a 12-week period, repeated cold swimming can lead to substantial bodily changes, including a fall in blood pressure and cholesterol, reduced fat disposition, inhibition of blood clotting and an increase in fertility and libido in both men and women.
The other benefit of taking a dip outdoors is that it’s free! So if you’re tempted to join the band of hardy folk who regularly swim in ponds or lakes but don’t know how to start, then take a look at the open water section of swimming.org or the Outdoor Swimming Society and they should be able to help you get started.
I can’t swim but want to learn
It’s never too late to learn to swim and you can find details from Swimming.org. or just pop along to your local baths, where they should have an adult learn to swim class.
But even if you can’t swim you can still use hydrotherapy pools if you are suffering from joint pain. These pools are kept at a constant 34°C to help with muscle relaxation and so help to ease pain.
Build up slowly
If you haven’t swum for a while then aim to swim only a length at first and then build up slowly. In no time you’ll be swimming ten lengths each time you visit the pool and maybe even more!
Try entering a race
If you need motivation to help you train regularly then perhaps consider raising money by doing a sponsored swim, or even entering a race. It doesn’t matter where you come or even if you don’t manage to finish – it’s all good exercise!
Have you started swimming late in life or have you tried open water swimming? Please do comment below as we would love to hear from you.
Disclaimer
All content on Silversurfers.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated at all as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Silversurfers will not be responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content on www.silversurfers.com and we are also not liable for the content of any external websites or links from or to Silversurfers to any other websites. Please always consult your own doctor if you’re in any way concerned about any aspect of your health.
Melina - Assistant Editor
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