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Why Swimming is Good For You
November 26th 2006 00:51
Why Swimming is Good For You
Our bodies are about 70% water; and while the lungs are filled with the air, the body is slightly less dense than the surrounding water, which exerts a buoyant force on it. So to stay afloat all that is required is a slight propelling of water downward relative to the body. Because we are buoyant in the water, there is less force placed upon our joints and bones during swimming. Think about the graceful movement of a swimmer doing freestyle along a swimming pool – it’s such a majestic and seemingly easy form of exercise in comparison to the hard jolt of running on a bitumen road.
Hydration
Another benefit of swimming is the constant cooling down of the body from the surrounding water. But swimmers must be wary that just because they are presumably kept cool and refreshed throughout their swim, they are no more hydrated than they would be if jogging on the road instead. So remember to keep drinking water during a swim and afterwards. You may not feel thirsty at the time, but you really need to replace the water you are losing through sweat.
Aerobic Swimming
Fast swimming requires a high level of effort, meaning glycogen (stored glucose) rather than fat is burned. Prolonged exercise at lower intensity is better for fat-burning, and this is called aerobic exercise because it uses a relatively long exercise time, uses oxygen and maintains an increased heart rate. So if you want to burn fat it is better to swim at a moderate pace for longer instead of doing sudden bursts of sprint-swimming.
Bone Density
Now, because there is little impact on the joints and bones which will save on wear and tear, there is a related diadvantage of swimming in that it does barely anything for bone density. Bone density is important in protecting against diseases such as osteoporosis (porous bone - osteo = bone, porosis = porous) at the later stages of life. Achieving a higher peak bone mass through exercise and proper calcium intake during adolescence is important for the prevention of osteoporosis. So it's beneficial to engage in other forms of exercise that are higher impact such as walking or jogging.
An All-Round Form of Exercise
Swimming exercises almost all muscles in the body. Usually, the arms and upper body are exercised more than the legs. Those of you who engage in the sport will feel your arms tighten as you leave the pool – so remember to stretch them after each session.
In competitive swimming, excessive leg muscles can be seen as a disadvantage as they consume more oxygen, which would be needed for the muscles in the arms, although this depends on the swimming style. While breaststroke generates significant movement with the legs, freestyle propels the body mainly with the arms. You can see the importance of having ‘beefed up’ arms in regards to swimming if you just look at any Olympic Swimmer.
Even when you are not consciously swimming for exercise you will still be burning calories in the water. Just go to the beach and play around in the surf and you’ll still be exercising because of the resistance of the water! But I usually opt for the pool as there are less sharks, sting rays, and bluebottles…
wimming.breaststroke.arp.750pix.jpg" target="_blank">Image in the Public Domain
Our bodies are about 70% water; and while the lungs are filled with the air, the body is slightly less dense than the surrounding water, which exerts a buoyant force on it. So to stay afloat all that is required is a slight propelling of water downward relative to the body. Because we are buoyant in the water, there is less force placed upon our joints and bones during swimming. Think about the graceful movement of a swimmer doing freestyle along a swimming pool – it’s such a majestic and seemingly easy form of exercise in comparison to the hard jolt of running on a bitumen road.
Hydration
Another benefit of swimming is the constant cooling down of the body from the surrounding water. But swimmers must be wary that just because they are presumably kept cool and refreshed throughout their swim, they are no more hydrated than they would be if jogging on the road instead. So remember to keep drinking water during a swim and afterwards. You may not feel thirsty at the time, but you really need to replace the water you are losing through sweat.
Aerobic Swimming
Fast swimming requires a high level of effort, meaning glycogen (stored glucose) rather than fat is burned. Prolonged exercise at lower intensity is better for fat-burning, and this is called aerobic exercise because it uses a relatively long exercise time, uses oxygen and maintains an increased heart rate. So if you want to burn fat it is better to swim at a moderate pace for longer instead of doing sudden bursts of sprint-swimming.
Bone Density
Now, because there is little impact on the joints and bones which will save on wear and tear, there is a related diadvantage of swimming in that it does barely anything for bone density. Bone density is important in protecting against diseases such as osteoporosis (porous bone - osteo = bone, porosis = porous) at the later stages of life. Achieving a higher peak bone mass through exercise and proper calcium intake during adolescence is important for the prevention of osteoporosis. So it's beneficial to engage in other forms of exercise that are higher impact such as walking or jogging.
An All-Round Form of Exercise
Swimming exercises almost all muscles in the body. Usually, the arms and upper body are exercised more than the legs. Those of you who engage in the sport will feel your arms tighten as you leave the pool – so remember to stretch them after each session.
In competitive swimming, excessive leg muscles can be seen as a disadvantage as they consume more oxygen, which would be needed for the muscles in the arms, although this depends on the swimming style. While breaststroke generates significant movement with the legs, freestyle propels the body mainly with the arms. You can see the importance of having ‘beefed up’ arms in regards to swimming if you just look at any Olympic Swimmer.
Even when you are not consciously swimming for exercise you will still be burning calories in the water. Just go to the beach and play around in the surf and you’ll still be exercising because of the resistance of the water! But I usually opt for the pool as there are less sharks, sting rays, and bluebottles…
wimming.breaststroke.arp.750pix.jpg" target="_blank">Image in the Public Domain
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Comment by katyzzz
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You write etremely well, Rach, I notice you always have something to say which is clearly expressed.
I,too, have an interest in the human body, so we have something in common.
katyzzz
Comment by Adrienne
Comment by Justin
Great article Rach. I'm seriously thinking of getting back into swimming since you reminded me of it. Cheers!
Comment by RachDegab
Yeah I love swimming. It's such a natural and cooling way to exercise and it's not hard on your joints... it's good to get back into it now we're in the hot season.
RachDegab
Comment by Deorre
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Comment by Anonymous
The results are starting to become more and more evident as I can now breathe freely whilst swimming and after [to start with for the first few weeks I was feeling sick after a swim but I kept pursurvering and now I feel great after a swim, I feel that I have achieved something and it helps me to concentrate at work. Along with healthy eating [as little artificial sugars and fats as I can] I'm now beginning to feel fit and a lot healthier! Plus I've started to lose a few inches on my waist; I'm not that fat, just accumulated a bit of a belly from not doing any exercise over the last few years!
...I'm hoping that by the summer I will have a nice toned upper body and I'm working on my muscles [I have big arms from rowing when I was at school / college] so hopefully before long I'll be once again happy with my body shape! ...plus swimming is a good chance to meet other regular swimmers, its all in all a great way to get fit!
I personally think that anyone who says you don't loose weight swimming is silly to put people off the sport! ...Obviously, there are the 'fat' swimmers who do a 25m length every 2mins and doens't even look as if they are moving which won't get you fit or lose weight, in fact, your probably better off going for a run! ...But I'm getting my 25m length to under 30s and its working, I'm getting fit and losing weight!
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by jdub
Comment by Anonymous
I really hate the days when I feel like swimming but cannot.
Comment by Anonymous