What Is Swimming Good For And What Are Its Benefits?

Swimming is one of the best known and most practiced sports in the world. This sports activity is extremely beneficial for health and is recommended for people of all ages.

Swimming can be done for fun, as a sport, or as a form of transportation to move around a body of water. In this activity the whole body is used, especially the arms and legs, to move in the water; This is used to exercise, lose weight, do therapy and much more.

Here we show you everything you need to know about swimming as a sports discipline and recreational activity.

Swimming benefits

Swimming is a physical activity that consists of moving in the water using the extremities without touching the bottom. This activity is practiced all over the world, as a sport, recreational activity or to know how to survive in cases of emergency in the water.

Swimming is as natural as walking for humans and most mammals. In fact, newborn babies are instinctively able to swim and hold their breath underwater.

This activity is of great benefit to all people, especially those who need physical therapy, people with arthritis, pregnant women, people who are overweight, etc. Unlike other sports, swimming uses all the muscles of the body to stay afloat and advance in the water. In addition, thanks to the lightness that the water provides, it is easier to carry out a training that for many could be impossible out of the water.

Swimming is an activity that uses the whole body; puts all the muscles to work, exercises breathing and keeps the lungs working properly, keeps blood pressure levels regulated, oxygenates the brain, and much more.

This activity is ideal for children, youth, adults and the elderly; there is no age when you cannot enter the pool to swim. In fact, many schools around the world include swimming as a statutory physical activity.

Swimming to lose weight

As we have mentioned, swimming is an excellent physical activity if you want to lose weight. Being in the water makes the workout feel lighter, but it’s still a strong and effective fat-burning workout.

Swimming has many benefits for overweight people, as it is a very good cardiovascular workout that will speed up the metabolism. Many doctors recommend using this sport to lose weight, and it has achieved better results than with other types of physical activity.

Swimming as a physical activity is also very beneficial and recommended for overweight children. This is a way for children to lose weight in a healthy way in a fun environment and with an activity that they can easily see as recreational.

Benefits of swimming in children

Swimming is one of the most complete sports that exist, and it goes far beyond exercising the body, so there are many benefits of this sport for children. Children can start swimming as infants; in many places you can find swimming lessons for babies where parents also participate.

This exercise in babies, usually 6 months and older, develops the respiratory and cardiovascular system, also improves posture and alignment of the spine and strengthens the muscles. It also promotes the baby’s safety, independence and self-confidence.

In children, swimming has advantages in health, in psychological and social development. Swimming is ideal to develop the respiratory system of children and works the heart system. Plus, it whets an appetite, which is perfect for children who have trouble eating; and it also helps the little ones to sleep better.

Swimming boosts confidence in babies and children, and is also a great way to make friends while interacting with their environment.

Benefits of swimming in women

Swimming also has many benefits for women. First of all, it is an excellent exercise to burn calories and lose weight; 30 minutes of effortless swimming at a basic pace can burn up to 300 calories.

In addition, it is excellent for toning muscles and exercising joints, which helps prevent osteoporosis and arthritis. Swimming has the same benefits as running daily but with almost no impact on the joints.

It is also an ideal sport to keep cholesterol and blood sugar levels level, prevents cardiovascular diseases and makes you feel more active. But, in the same way, it is an ideal sport to work the mind and free yourself from stress; This is because swimming releases dopamine in the body, which stimulates happiness, sexual desire and relaxation.

What is swimming for in pregnancy?

For pregnant women, swimming is one of the most recommended sports. This is so for many reasons; Swimming is mainly recommended because it is an exercise whose impact on the joints and the body is almost non-existent, so it will not be a problem for women at any stage of pregnancy. In addition, thanks to the lightness of the body in the water, it will be easier to carry out an exercise routine no matter how big your belly is.

Swimming will help the pregnant woman and the baby, as circulation and blood pressure will be improved. In addition, the mother will feel much lighter and more relaxed in the water, which is perfect especially in the last months of pregnancy.

Swimming will help to release pressure and align the spine, and all the advantages of this sport will begin to be felt from the first session.

What is therapeutic swimming for?

There are many types of aquatic therapies, such as therapeutic swimming or aquatic physical therapy, and each of them is the most ideal way to treat bone and muscle problems or injuries.

Therapeutic swimming can treat deviations and problems in the spine, heart disease, obesity, arthritis, respiratory diseases including asthma, stress, depression, and much more.

Water provides training with less effort and with the same or greater number of results than other types of therapies. Aquatic therapies are recommended for athletes who have suffered injuries, recoveries and post-operative therapies, the elderly, etc. There is no doubt that these types of therapies will be the best option in most cases.

Disadvantages of swimming

Swimming is one of the best sports because it has many advantages and few disadvantages. Among its advantages, in addition to all those that we have mentioned in this article, we can highlight that it is a very economical sport to practice, since it basically does not require equipment, and that it reduces the risk of injuries almost 100% compared to other sports. However we can find some disadvantages.

Among the disadvantages we have that if the sport is practiced incorrectly, it could cause tendonitis and muscle tears. In addition, in public swimming pools there is a risk of catching fungi or mycosis, so it will be very important to shower with plenty of soap after swimming. There is also a risk of indigestion if you exercise shortly after eating.

Apart from this, there are very few negative things that can be said about swimming. So if you are looking for a sport to practice, this will be one of your best options.