The benefits of swimming

Swimming is an excellent sport, that uses all the muscles of the body and helps develop cardiovascular stamina.

What is so good about swimming?

• Swimming is a good exercise for breathing, in particular the lungs.
• It avoids pressure on the joints whilst exercising, which as a result, the joints are not subjected to the weight of your body any more.
• It's the perfect sport to refine your figure. It utilizes many muscles, especially when you swim crawl. For example, if you want toned and firm buttocks try swimming whilst wearing flippers. >> The water has a massaging effect. The movement through the water helps improve your blood flow. It also helps to avoid water retention and cellulite.
• It's a very relaxing physical activity.

How often?

Ideally, you should swim for 30 to 45 minutes, once or twice a week.

What stroke?

It is important that you vary strokes: breast stroke, crawl, backstroke... This will avoid any kind of muscle damage.

Precautions

• Take a shower and dry yourself carefully after swimming, in order to avoid fungal infections.
• Use flip-flop shoes in the changing room and the showers: they will help you avoiding verruca.
• Wearing a bathing cap for the hair is often compulsory and can protect it from chemical products - Choose a silicone one.

Who shouldn't go swimming?

There are some contraindications to swimming.

• Some health conditions require some time for recovery. Recent lung infection such as bronchitis and acute asthma attacks, angina, upper respiratory infections including the throat, sinus and especially the ears. Swimming should be avoided until you are completely healthy again.
• Swimming should be avoided with some skin conditions, like an acute flare up of eczema or an episode of shingles.
• If you suffer with fainting attacks or have epilepsy or diabetes for instance, you should seek for medical advice before you go swimming. It is also advisable to inform the life-guard before entering the pool.
• If you have back pain, you should avoid front crawl and should swim on your back.
• The air in swimming pools can be aggravating for some children and babies who have a tendency to have asthma, however, some find it helps their breathing and asthma. Always seek for medical advice before taking a baby or a child to the pool.

Drawbacks when you overdo it

Swimming is excellent for your health as long as you don't overdo it. Otherwise, there are several drawbacks you should be aware of.

• Joints that might suffer include shoulders and knees...
• Ear infections are quite common.

This document entitled « The benefits of swimming » from Kioskea (health.kioskea.net) is made available under the Creative Commons license. You can copy, modify copies of this page, under the conditions stipulated by the licence, as this note appears clearly.