In this article, we present 9 benefits of swimming for both children and adults.
All sports have benefits. However, each one provides different advantages that the others do not.
Swimming is a sport that, due to the environment in which it takes place, has many differentiators with respect to most sports with lifeguard training.
9 benefits of swimming
1. Develop coordination
Swimming works with many movements of the body at the same time with lifeguard Certification. To move around in the water you must move your arms and legs, while also paying attention to floating and breathing.
In order to move forward, you carry out all the movements simultaneously and with rhythm, which is why you acquire great coordination skills.
2. Work of different muscle groups simultaneously
In the water, we must exert more force to move due to the density of the water, and therefore it is necessary to use a good part of our body to move.
This allows many muscle groups to be worked in the water. And since all exercise takes place simultaneously, it is possible to develop muscles with little time of exercise.
Some of the muscles that are worked in swimming are the following:
1. In legs: quadriceps, hamstrings, and tibias.
2. In arms: biceps and triceps.
3. In forearm and hand: supinator and pronators.
4. On the back: dorsal, trapezius, and deltoids.
5. In neck: sternocleidomastoid.
6. Pectorals.
7. ABS.
3. Increased lung capacity and improvement of the respiratory system
Because swimming completely requires adequate breathing, both to float and to submerge the head, the respiratory system is strengthened by this sport.
To be able to float it is necessary to know how to properly inflate the lungs, and to be able to swim with the head underwater, it is necessary to learn to swim with rhythm and optimize the use of air.
Swimming is good for people who have respiratory illnesses, including those caused by smoking or being in polluted environments.
4. Improvement of circulation and cardiovascular system
For the cardiovascular system, there are also many benefits offered by swimming.
1. Improves oxygen consumption.
2. Slows heart rate.
3. Create resistance.
4. Regulates blood pressure.
All this is thanks to the fact that the exercise is carried out in an aquatic environment, which has several advantages.
The body remains cool while in the water, in addition to the fact that, in most swimming exercises, we are in a horizontal position. These two things make it easier for the system to circulate the blood since the blood can be distributed evenly in the body without so much effort on the heart.
Because being in the water puts less strain on the heart, it can tolerate more physical activity.
5. Stress reduction
Exercise, in general, is a stress reducer, because through physical activity the blood in our brain circulates more efficiently, in addition to producing substances such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which are responsible for the feeling of well-being and happiness.
But in addition to the benefits of exercise in general, there is the fact that swimming is done in water. Being in the water, in addition to being refreshing, reduces muscle tension, as well as the heart and respiratory rate, which is beneficial to keep us in a state of relaxation that remains even hours after having been in the pool.
6. Improved memory, focus, and mental clarity
When we swim, because we are using many parts of our body in a coordinated way and we are in a different environment than our daily lives, our brain creates multiple mental associations and, therefore, generates new neural connections.
When we are swimming, in addition, we have mostly concentrated thanks to the fact that our body has to master skills that it only practices in the water.
Due to the new neural connections and the concentration and coordination skills that develop in the water, our brains have the potential to improve mental clarity and focus in our daily activities, in addition to memory.
7. Prevents and treats injuries
Although swimming involves greater physical effort due to the force required to move, it is a very low-impact sport. This means that it is unlikely to cause any injury or damage to the joints, bones, tendons, or ligaments.
But in addition to being unlikely to cause injury, swimming can also prevent and treat you if you have one. Some doctors advise their patients to walk in water or swim in case of injuries to the lower extremities (such as ankles or knees).
In either case, if you have an injury, it is the doctor who has to prescribe swimming as a therapeutic activity.
8. Eliminate fears and fears
Learning to swim is one of the activities that generate great fear for many people. This is because the body has to adapt to an environment it does not know, and our brain activates an alert because it faces new situations.
However, to overcome fears, the most useful thing is to face what produces them.
Because for some people the fear of water is very great, once they face it it is easier for them to face other fears of their daily life.
9. Fit for all
As it is a low-impact sport, unlike many other sports, swimming is suitable for all types of people. From babies to older adults, as well as people with disabilities or people in medical treatment, they can practice it.
Swimming does not represent high wear and tear on the joints and is kind to the heart, which is why it even serves as therapy for the treatment of some physical ailments.
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