Swimming is an excellent option for exercise because of the diverse options you have in the water. Unlike a team sport, which requires players to keep up with a certain pace of play, swimming is done individually and your own terms. But it still can burn a lot of calories because you work so many of your muscles. Swimming also provides a significant advantage over land sports because of the minimal stress it puts on your bone joints.
Joint Health
Running puts a lot of pressure on your knees and gradually wears down the cartilage protecting your knee bones from grinding together. Many other sports do the same, but swimming offers relief from joint stress. Because you are suspended in water, your joints never bear all your weight. People with arthritis can actually improve their joint health through swimming. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people with rheumatoid arthritis show greater improvement in joint health after hydrotherapy compared with other methods. Swimming and other water-based exercise also can benefit your joints and decrease pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Cardiovascular Health
Swimming can be an aerobic or anaerobic activity, depending on the intensity of your workout, and it has a significant benefits for your cardiovascular system when done consistently. These benefits include increased heart strength, a reduction in high blood pressure and high cholesterol, improved circulation and a reduced risk of heart disease and heart attacks. If you swim regularly, you also can lower your resting heart rate--an indicator of your body's overall health.
Mental Health
The CDC reports that water-based exercise can improve your mental health and your moods. People with fibromyalgia can have reduced anxiety levels and relief from depression. A pregnant woman can use swimming exercises to improve her health and the health of her unborn child. Swimming also can be a more accessible form of exercise for people with developmental disabilities, and the CDC reports that family swimming sessions can help improve their connections and relationships.
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