9 benefits of swimming for your health

In this article we present 9 benefits of swimming with lifeguard recertification 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 compared to most sports.

9 benefits of swimming

1. Develop coordination

Swimming works with many body movements at once. To move in the water you must move your arms and legs, while also paying attention to floating and breathing.

In order to move forward, all the movements are carried out simultaneously and with rhythm, for which 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 the exercise takes place simultaneously, it is possible to develop the muscles with little exercise time.

Some of the muscles that are worked in swimming are the following:

In legs: quadriceps, hamstrings and tibialis.

In arms: biceps and triceps.

In forearm and hand: supinator's and pronators.

In back: dorsal, trapezius and deltoids.

In neck: sternocleidomastoid.

pectorals

3. Increased lung capacity and improvement of the respiratory system

Because swimming completely requires proper 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 your 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. Improved circulation and cardiovascular system

For the cardiovascular system, there are also many benefits offered by swimming.

·        Improves oxygen consumption.

·        Decreases heart rate.

·        Create resistance.

·        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 stays cool while in the water, plus you are in a horizontal position for most swimming exercises. These two things make it easier for the system to circulate the blood, because the blood can be evenly distributed in the body without much strain on the heart.

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 the fact that it produces 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 heart and respiratory rate, which is beneficial for keeping us in a state of relaxation that remains even hours after being 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 because we are in a different environment from our daily life, our brain creates multiple mental associations and therefore generates new neural connections.

When we are swimming, in addition, we are 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 concentration and coordination skills that develop in the water, our brains have the potential to improve mental clarity and focus in our daily activities, as well as 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 the fact that it is unlikely to cause any type of injury, swimming can also prevent and serve as a treatment in case you do have one. Some doctors advise their patients to walk in the water or swim for injuries to the lower extremities (such as ankles or knees).

In any of the cases, 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 generates great fear for many people. This is because the body has to adapt to an environment that 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 in their daily lives.

9. Suitable for everyone

As it is a low-impact sport, unlike many sports, swimming is suitable for all types of people. From babies to older adults, as well as people with disabilities or people undergoing medical treatment, they can practice it.

Swimming does not represent high wear on the joints and is kind to the heart, which is why it even serves as therapy for the treatment of  online lifeguard services USA some physical ailments.