Swimming has long been known for being a significant form of exercise, but if you were asked what benefits it can have on your body, would you know the answer? These positive side effects take on many forms—both physical and mental. If the idea of going to the gym leaves you perturbed, swimming could be a more comfortable alternative, and if you lack in confidence, swimming is ideal for all levels of ability. With a splash of commitment, you might significantly improve your health by spending a little time in the water.
Blood pressure
A regular pattern of swimming has been shown to have significant effects on blood pressure in the long term. Your commitment to maintaining a swimming schedule will ensure an excellent cardiovascular workout that will decrease your blood pressure—if it was previously high—or ensure you maintain a regular level of blood pressure. The American Journal of Cardiology, taking a group of individuals of 60 years or older, have tested this. Applying them to a regular swimming routine, they noted a decrease of an average of nine points in their blood pressure after taking up a regular swimming routine.
Muscle strength
Swimmers gain muscle strength throughout their entire body. With most physical exercise —whether it’s running, weights or cycling—the application on the muscles tends to be constrained to a few isolated areas. Swimmers utilize more muscle groups to move through the water for an all-inclusive workout. While the legs kick, the arms pull, the back reaches and rotates and the stomach tightens to power the legs and stabilizes the core.
Buoyancy and resistance
The physical attributes of swimming are many, but the two that lend themselves are buoyancy and resistance. When buoyant and the water is up to your neck, 90 percent of your body is submerged. This can make the physical element of an exercise routine easier; there’s no pounding to the floor or jarring movement and your body is alleviated because of the water surrounding you. Water offers a 14 percent greater resistance than if you were to exercise on land, allowing for sudden body movement, which reduces the potential for injury.
Stress Management
If you’re seeking a stress-free alternative to improve your health, swimming eliminates a lot of the features that people may disklike about a gym. A calmer, more relaxed form of exercise is ideal for someone who is looking to improve their mental well-being as well as their physical health. The coordination required to create a rhythmic cycle is not only relaxing in itself but also encourages regulatory breathing. This contributes to the growth of the lungs and a more relaxed state of breathing—an exercise regularly practised in mental health sectors. Taking the initiative to make adjustments to your day, ensuring you go to the pool during off-peak hours to avoid a crowd and approaching your new activity with a positive attitude will ensure you make the most out of your experience.
Increased intelligence
One of the lesser-known positive side effects of swimming is increasing levels of intellect. While still a theory in progress, an investigation by the Journal of Physiology has noted a significant increase in intelligence among swimmers. The average male has an increased blood flow of 14 percent underwater. While the exact reasoning for this is still being determined, it’s theorised that it is the water’s pressure on the chest cavity that increases levels of intelligence.
Exercise with pre-existing health conditions
In terms of seeking a form of exercise while trying to care for a pre-existing condition, swimming is about as good as it gets. Numerous medical scenarios, such as physiotherapy, utilize swimming as a form of after-care, and many more consider it as a safe form of practice for people with long-term conditions such as arthritis, joint pain or diabetes.
