How 10 Incredible Benefits of Swimming for Runners Made Me a Better Person

1. Helps prevent injuries

Of all the low-impact cross-training exercises—including cycling, elliptical, and rowing—swimming places the least biomechanical stress on the body due to its low impact on the joints, making it becomes the favorite of runners when it comes to avoiding or rehabilitating from an injury. But as we have said before, it helps prevent injuries, but does not cure them.

2. Activates the circulatory system

When you exercise in a horizontal position, blood return is greater because the blood does not have to deal with gravity when moving through the body. In addition, when we swim, the water exerts a massage-like effect on the muscles, which activates the blood and promotes its circulation. If you suffer, for example, from tired legs or varicose veins, swimming with lifeguard Class is a good way to relieve heavy legs.

3. Promotes the development of greater resistance

Swimming increases lung capacity and strengthens bones, which translates into a more resistant body. To build endurance when swimming it is essential to keep your heart rate constant throughout your workout, unlike sprint training where you swim for short periods at maximum intensity, followed by a fairly long rest to recover your heart rate.

4. Increases lung capacity

Because blood return is greater, the heart pumps harder to keep blood flowing through the muscles. Many athletes achieve their VO2 max not on dry land, but in the pool. One way to increase cardiovascular effort when swimming is to gradually introduce high-intensity intervals, such as fast 100-meter repetitions with 10 seconds of rest between each. If you do series or fartlek when you run, then do something similar in the pool.

5. Improves mood

When we swim, as when we do any high-intensity activity such as running or cycling, we secrete chemical substances known as endorphins that act as neurotransmitters and are responsible for activating feelings of happiness, fullness, and even euphoria both during and after training.

6. Increases self-esteem

Swimming helps repair cells from any brain damage at the molecular and behavioral level, dramatically relieving symptoms of depression. According to a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), swimming, like other athletic disciplines, improves mood due to a considerable increase in blood circulation in the brain and its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. -adrenal” (HPA), essential part of the brain that controls stress.

7. Improves concentration

Another of the effects of swimming on the brain is that it favors the ability to concentrate on a task and mental clarity. This is because, when swimming, the two cerebral hemispheres are activated along with the four lobes of the brain. This increases neural links and causes more oxygen to reach the brain, which translates into greater activation of the brain.

8. Helps fight muscle pain

More and more therapists are recommending swimming with lifeguards class and hydrotherapy to combat certain muscular pains due to the flexibility that is acquired with their practice. In addition, the mere fact that our body floats makes our muscles, bones and joints fall into place, eliminating possible injuries and pain.

9. Fight chronic diseases

Being an aerobic sport that takes place over long periods of time, it lowers blood glucose levels, which produces greater sensitivity to insulin. In addition, swimming is a perfect exercise for people with high cholesterol as it helps lower their blood levels. In addition, swimming is very beneficial for people with asthma because it does not cause excessive pectoral pressure and it is practiced in a humid environment.

10. It is a relaxing activity

Swimming is perfect when it's hot and running is not exactly what you feel like, but it is also very pleasant to swim in warm water on days of intense cold. Being an activity in the liquid medium, it is very relaxing. Along with proper nutrition and hydration, swimming promotes restful sleep and rest. It is a very pleasant physical activity. 

Must Read: What are the benefits of swimming?