Swimming is a very enjoyable physical activity. There’s no denying it!
Water at the ideal temperature, a feeling of relaxation of body and mind, the enthusiasm of learning something new or overcoming one’s own limits. Swimming is too good!
To top it off, swimming is chock-full of health benefits. Discover 20 benefits that this sport can bring to your life!
1. AGAINST RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS
Allergy and diseases such as bronchitis and asthma can significantly improve with swimming with lifeguard training. It is very common for asthmatics to receive medical indication for swimming as a form of treatment, achieving a reduction in crises and even a cure.
This happens by the union of important factors: the properties of the water, the movements carried out in the swimming and the humidity of the environment. Water properties such as buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure positively influence the process of inspiration and expiration by stimulating muscle strengthening and boosting expiration. Meanwhile, the movements performed in swimming expand and strengthen the muscles of the rib cage, enhancing the work of the lungs, as well as strengthening the abdominal region, improving diaphragmatic breathing. Finally, the warm and humid air of the aquatic environment has effects similar to vaporization, fighting dryness of the nasal passages and helping to prevent asthma attacks and respiratory allergies.
Fun fact: Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympic medalist in the history of swimming, started swimming as a way to treat his asthma.
2. PREVENTS AND HELP COMBAT FLU AND COLDS
As in the case of respiratory diseases, swimming prevents and relieves cold and flu symptoms. The warm and humid air of the aquatic environment acts in a similar way to a vaporization, humidifying the nasal passages and facilitating breathing. In addition, breathing exercises and swimming movements help in the process of expectoration.
Important note: In times of Covid-19, don’t leave the house if you feel any flu or cold symptoms and seek medical attention if you have a fever.
3. REDUCTION OF MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN
Swimming promotes muscle stretching and relaxation, relieving muscle pain. It also helps in muscle strengthening without straining the joints, as it is a low-impact exercise. This helps to treat osteoarticular problems by strengthening the body’s structure and preventing further wear and tear, as well as acting in postural correction, resulting in reduced pain.
4. STRENGTHENS MUSCLES
This physical activity works all muscle groups through their different strokes, strengthening the body as a whole with low impact on the joints.
When the goal is hypertrophy, swimming is not the most suitable for quick results, however it is an excellent ally of weight training to obtain the best potential.
Swimming is suitable for all ages and conditions, offering benefits from the motor development of babies to the conservation of the health of the elderly, preventing wear and tear on the body and helping to prolong vitality.
5. RELAX YOUR MUSCLE
The aquatic environment leaves the body free to perform movements that are not possible or easy in a terrestrial environment. Swimming exercises make use of this entire range of motion, performing efficient stretching and relaxing the muscles. Still, we have the properties of water as allies for relaxation, as the pressure and friction promote a kind of massage throughout the body. That way, you can take a class that, in addition to strengthening your body, will leave you relaxed.
6. IMPROVES POSTURE
The practice of physical activity helps in muscle strengthening, swimming in particular, is efficient in the exercise of the muscles of the center of the body (The CORE), responsible for the support and maintenance of posture. Also, because it is practiced horizontally, it helps to maintain the posture more easily throughout the training, while working on abdominal strength and stretching. Those who suffer from pain from postural problems can get relief and correction through swimming. This activity is commonly indicated by physicians and physical therapists to assist in the treatment of lordosis, scoliosis and kyphosis.
7. IMPROVES BLOOD CIRCULATION
Swimming improves blood circulation, as it increases cardiorespiratory capacity, boosts blood distribution with stronger arteries and also uses water pressure to improve venous return.
8. REDUCES SWILLS
Swellings or edemas are caused by fluid retention and cause a lot of discomfort. The practice of physical activity stimulates blood circulation and helps to reduce these edemas. Swimming, in particular, is even more beneficial, as the water pressure and the position of the exercise greatly favor venous return, being a great ally against edema. Pregnant women, people who suffer from obesity and joint problems have great benefit from water activities, as they help to reduce edema with low impact on the body.
9. ACTIVE RECOVERY FROM INJURIES AND MICROLESIONS
Bodybuilders and lovers of impact sports such as CrossFit, running and wrestling can suffer from injuries or micro-lesions in the musculature. Swimming helps in the muscle recovery process by improving tissue irrigation and muscle relaxation. This recovery happens in an active way – in physical activity – without suffering impact on the injured regions.
10. IMPROVES MOTOR COORDINATION
Swimming requires a great effort from the body and the brain to observe, assimilate and reproduce complex movements, which are not common in everyday life with lifeguard training. This brain’s effort to assimilate new gestures and the body awareness acquired in swimming end up being reflected outside the pool as well, improving everyday movements.
11. SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PERCEPTION
In addition to the development of motor coordination, swimming will require the body and brain to have a sense of space and time. So spatial orientation, laterality (right/left) and pace control are easier out of the water as well.
12. EXPANDS FLEXIBILITY
Flexibility is linked to the elasticity of muscles and associated with joint mobility. In the water it is possible to perform movements with more ease and amplitude, allowing an efficient stretching in a safe environment, while working the muscles in strength and still promoting relaxation.
Swimming movements are constantly demanding flexibility to apply force and body alignment in the water. Constant training expands these capabilities by teaching the body to better apply energy and increase speed to power swimming.
13. IMPROVES BALANCE
Balance is defined as the ability to maintain the body’s. Position on its base of support, that is, to maintain posture even when it is placed in different positions.
The combination of the different strokes offers strength training. For the different muscle groups, strengthening the entire body and facilitating support and posture.
In the aquatic environment, there are also several stimuli that contribute to the improvement of balance, such as the absence of fixed support with lifeguard training. The simultaneous displacement of arms and legs. The horizontal positioning of the body, the influence of gravity, hydrostatic pressure, breathing and the improvement of body awareness. Important sensory aspects are also stimulated. Capable of providing information about the positioning of the body through the skin, joints and vibratory sensors.
14. INCREASE IN PROVISION
The practice of regular physical activity is able to increase the disposition by increasing cardiorespiratory capacity, as the body becomes able to breathe more and better with lifeguard training. Absorbing more oxygen and distributing it throughout the body through a healthier circulatory system with lifeguard training. The well-trained heart is also able to recover faster after exertion, that is, it returns to its normal state with greater efficiency. Thus, the body has better use of energy and resistance, prolonging the disposition.
15. CALORIC BURN
Swimming is an activity that has a high calorie burn. It can be efficient in maintaining body weight and decreasing fat levels. Because it is a very pleasurable activity, it is great for those who want to get out of a sedentary lifestyle and be able to maintain their physical activity routine. It is also very suitable for people who suffer from obesity damage to the joints. As it is a low-impact exercise for fragile areas, in addition to allowing greater range of motion, improving circulation and reducing swelling with lifeguard training.
16. REGULATE CHOLESTEROL
The practice of physical activity is essential for the regulation of cholesterol levels in the body. Cholesterol is a type of fat present in the body. There are two types of it: the good (HDL), which is healthy and important for regulating the body’s functions, and the bad (LDL), which can clog the arteries, making it difficult to transport oxygen. in the body causing various ills such as heart attack and stroke. Swimming increases healthy cholesterol levels and lowers bad cholesterol.
17. PREVENTS CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
The practice of swimming reduces the risk of heart disease. Preventing hypertension and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. The clogging of veins and arteries by fat is what leads to a heart attack. Since a stroke is caused by the lack of oxygen in some area of the brain due to arterial obstructions or vessel rupture.
Swimming improves cardiovascular performance, blood circulation, oxygen delivery. Decreases the amount of bad fat in the blood, strengthens the heart and its pumping ability. And regulates blood pressure with lifeguard training.
18. AGAINST DIABETES
Diabetes is a problem caused by a lack of insulin in the blood or its inability to control glucose. Regular exercise can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and also help reduce glucose levels and improve insulin action. People with type 1 diabetes can also benefit from swimming. As it helps prevent complications of the disease, such as vascular damage lifeguard training .
19. SLEEP REGULATION
A good night’s sleep can work miracles. Sleep is necessary to regulate a number of bodily and mental functions. Sleeping well is essential for maintaining health!
Swimming contributes to sleep regulation, as it reduces stress, anxiety, promotes relaxation and helps regulate habits . At the end of the day, the result of exercising is quality sleep.
20. REGULATION OF APPETITE
Practicing swimming helps regulate appetite and can even help treat cases of eating disorders. The feeling of increased appetite when starting physical exercise is due to increased calorie burning and the need for replacement, but physical activity. At the same time, increases the concentration of substances responsible for suppressing hunger. Also, the feeling of pleasure from exercise tends to decrease the desire to consume fatty foods. Another important point is the regulation of sleep with lifeguard training, as lack of sleep causes increased hunger and decreased satiety hormones. In this way. Swimming regulates sleep, helps in appetite balance while burning body flat-water at the ideal temperature. A feeling of relaxation of body and mind, the enthusiasm of learning something new or overcoming one’s own limits.
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