9 benefits of swimming for your health

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 with lifeguard class is a sport that, due to the environment in which it takes place, has many differentiators compared to most other sports.

9 benefits of swimming

1. Develop coordination

Swimming works with many movements of the body at the same time. 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 movements are carried out simultaneously and with rhythm, which is why you acquire great coordination skills.

2. Work 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 work in the water. And since all the exercise is carried out simultaneously, it is possible to develop the muscles with little time of exercise.

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

• In legs: quadriceps, hamstrings and tibias.
• In arms: biceps and triceps.
• In forearm and hand: supinator's and pronators.
• On the back: dorsal, trapezius and deltoids.
• In the neck: sternocleidomastoid.
• Pectorals.
• ABS.

3. Increase in lung capacity and improvement of the respiratory system

Since 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 your head underwater, it is necessary to learn to swim with rhythm and optimize the use of air.

Swimming with lifeguards class is good for people who have respiratory diseases, 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.

• Improves oxygen consumption.
• The heart rate decreases.
• 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 remains cool while in the water, plus, 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 as much effort on the heart. Because being in the water puts less stress 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 the fact that it produces substances such as serotonin, dopamine and endorphins, which are responsible for the feeling of well-being and happiness.

But added to the benefits of exercise in general 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 rates, 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 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 the concentration and coordination skills that develop inside 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 implies a 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 have one. Some doctors recommend their patients to walk in the water or swim in case of injuries in 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 generates great fear for many people. This is because the body has to adapt to an environment it is not familiar with, and our brain activates an alert because it is faced with new situations.

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 the elderly, as well as people with disabilities or people undergoing medical treatment, they can practice it.

Swimming does not represent high joint wear and is kind to the heart, which is why it even serves as a therapy for the treatment of some physical ailments.

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