
Using a kickboard in your swimming practice allows you to isolate your legs and develop a stronger and more effective kick. As a strengthening benefit, kickboards also help you to develop muscle in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. Forty-five minutes of general swimming, such as with a kickboard, can burn 270 calories for someone weighing 125 pounds and around 400 calories for someone who weighs 185 pounds, according to Harvard Health Publications.
Increase the Burn
Though kickboards are a useful swimming prop, varying your routine in the pool can help you to increase the amount of calories that you burn. Swimming laps at a vigorous pace without any props for 45 minutes can burn between 450 and 666 calories for someone weighing 125 and 185 pounds, respectively. For the same amount of time and body weight, the freestyle and butterfly can both burn between 495 and 732 calories, and the backstroke between 360 and 532 calories. Planning a swimming program that includes several types of props and strokes can help to make the workout challenging while also evening out the muscle tone in your body.
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