Swimming, unlike many dry-land sports, works most of the major muscle groups simultaneously. Certain competitive strokes use specific muscles as primary movers, however. Strengthening these muscle groups improves your performance; the best swimmers don't have more strokes per lap but go farther with each stroke.
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When you bend your elbow, your biceps contract and your triceps lengthen. When you straighten your arm, your triceps contract and your biceps lengthen. As a result, any swimming stroke that involves the bending and straightenin...
Whether you are swimming competitively or for fun, you have to do it correctly if you want your swim to be efficient and enjoyable. No matter what stroke you choose, four aspects are shared by all swim strokes.
The five phases of swimming's front stroke join together to create the fastest stroke that a swimmer can use. During a freestyle event, all swimmers use the front stroke because it allows them to generate the most power through...
During this stroke, you'll bring your arms over your head in an arch and kick with your legs. Learn how to breathe properly during your front stroke because that allows you to maximize the efficiency of your strokes without slo...
What swimming stroke works best for you depends on what you want out of swimming. An all-over body workout, swimming has the ability to tire you out without wearing out your joints, thanks to the buoyancy of the water. Whether ...
However, the thought of endless laps back and forth across the pool with nothing but the endless blue lane line to look at can be discouraging. Since you can't distract yourself easily with the normal tricks, like plugging int...
The Cross-Stroke is a type of swimming technique developed to combat poor performance results from the traditional freestyle stroke. The move was created by swimmer Tom Cross and is pending a patent, as of publication. Cross sa...
The breaststroke is the most popular stroke for recreational swimming for good reason --- it's the easiest stroke to do and comes naturally to most people. Consider using it if you are swimming for fitness or recreation for a s...
A swimming exercise program offers an energizing no-impact workout composed of four or more basic strokes. Improving each stroke's form increases your overall efficiency. If you swim the crawl stroke, for example, keeping your ...
Swimming is an effective form of cardiovascular exercise that gives you a workout without stressing your joints. Whether you are swimming for fun or for health, knowing how to execute the basic strokes will help you get the mo...
Swimming competitively or for fitness requires technical skills that often take years in the pool to understand, let alone master. Four basic swim strokes dominate, although some strokes, such as the dog paddle, are used by rec...
Whether you're just getting into competitive swimming or it's a hobby, it's important to know and understand the four basic strokes of the sport. Each stroke employs specific arm and kicking techniques for the fastest speed. Pr...
Whether you swim competitively or for fun, knowing different swimming strokes can help you to vary the muscles that you work. Four chief swimming strokes exist, each requiring you to employ a different technique to propel yours...
Swimming is a great, low-impact cardio workout that burns calories, builds your stamina and uses all the major muscles in your body. There are many strokes to choose from, each of which works different sets of muscles. By incor...
Patient and strong breaststrokers will their way through the water, while freestyle enthusiasts move fast and efficiently. Each swimming stroke has its specific challenges and rewards but all require good technique and fitness ...
Swimming has four common strokes: the front crawl or freestyle, the back stroke, the butterfly and the breaststroke. You can swim all of these individual strokes at various speeds, depending on your fitness and experience; howe...
The most common stokes in swimming are the freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke. These four strokes are used on all levels, from swim competitions at your local swim club to the Olympics. While world-class swimmers...
Swimmers refer to the freestyle stroke as the forward crawl or the Australian crawl. It is the fastest of the four competitive strokes and when performed correctly, it is an efficient stroke for sprints and long-distance swims....
Swimming provides an effective cardiovascular workout and can burn more than 500 calories per hour, according to MayoClinic.com. There are many different styles of swimming; using a variety of strokes may help you battle boredom.
The swimming kick is used partially for propulsion, but mostly to position your body properly in the water, minimize drag and reduce the amount of energy you need to expend with each stroke. Leg strokes include scissor or flutt...
Whether you swim for leisure or competition, you can choose from four basic swimming strokes to propel your body across the water. Swimming is a total-body workout that requires your arms and legs to efficiently work together. ...
According to Pool Comfort, ancient Egyptian drawings from as far back as 2500 BC depict people swimming. Whether you swim recreationally or compete, you are getting a very effective cardiovascular exercise: An ho
International swimming competitions feature four strokes: freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke. The freestyle remains the fastest stroke, according to world records posted on USAswimming.com, followed by butterfly,...
Swimming can also help you strengthen muscles in your upper body, lower body and core. Some strokes work core muscles better than others. If you want to tone your abdominals, focus on the butterfly and freestyle strokes.
Lap swimming is a good aerobic exercise that improves your heart and lung health. You use all the major muscle groups in your body swimming so you tone your entire body swimming laps. Swimming is a highly technical sport, thoug...
Its goals are wide, from running learn-to-swim programs to helping its elite swimmers attain gold medals at the Olympics. As the governing body, it also sets the rules for the correct stroke when swimming competitively.
Humans have enjoyed swimming for thousands of years and the swimming strokes they've used have evolved over the centuries. Today, rules for national and international competition standardize strokes and describe in detail what ...
Lap swimming is good exercise, but you need good technique and fitness to swim longer distances. The four basic swimming strokes are freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. You swim facing down in the water for every...
Given the proper instruction, almost anyone can learn to swim including children, seniors and people who are recovering from injuries. As you learn to swim, you will find that there are a variety of swimming strokes that allow ...
The rules for swimming strokes are defined by the league in which a swimmer swims. While USA Swimming sets the rules for the competitive swimmers in the United States, they are part of FINA, the international body. National gro...
It does not, however, help build bone density, so should be done in combination with other exercises. Four primary strokes are swum at a competitive level, and all can be interesting to learn.
Swimming technique doesn't have to be drill after drill. Especially if you're working with children, you want to add a little variety and fun into swim improvement. By doing so, you can teach swimmers better skills and increase...
Ten minutes of performing this difficult stroke can burn about 150 calories, according to an article online for London's "Daily Mail." Swimming laps in butterfly stroke works muscles in your chest, abdominals, arms, legs and back.
Swimming drills help you improve specific elements of your swimming by making you focus on them. Moving fast and efficiently through the water depends on good stroke mechanics. Just moving your arms and legs faster tires you ou...
Six types of swimming strokes incorporate different kick movements and arm motions to propel your body across the surface of the water. Individual swimming strokes may require efficient technique, muscular strength and enduranc...
Adding new strokes to your repertoire will allow you to get more variety out of your swims, as well as train you for competitive swimming. These strokes are very specific with regard to body position, arm and leg movements. Som...
Improper swimming technique can cause you to waste a lot of energy and get worn out more quickly. Correct swimming technique will improve your efficiency and allow you to swim faster and for a longer time. Beginning swimmers mi...
Beginners often find the freestyle and the breaststroke easier to learn than other competitive swimming strokes. Both of these strokes combine a particular leg kick with an arm pull. In the breaststroke, the legs and arms move ...
The fine-tuning of hand movements, kicking style and body position enable swimmers to swim fast, efficiently and with little worry about injury. A swim stroke develops slowly and typically in a determined order because some str...
The benefits of swimming include a whole-body workout, cardiovascular conditioning, muscle strengthening and endurance. Lap swimming involves four basic strokes. Although some are easier to perform than others, they should all ...
Swimming is an excellent workout for the entire body that can be performed by all age groups and ability levels. Swimming workouts can be designed to fit a variety of fitness levels and needs, whether for a beginner swimming f...
Several swimming strokes are used in swimming competitions. Each stroke requires different skills and different movements of the body. Learning the swimming strokes can help you become an accomplished swimmer.
While it is a relatively easy way to move through the water, keeping up a doggie paddle for any length of time takes some endurance. The swim stroke, while easy to learn, offers a lot of physical benefits that you can't get fro...
