While there’s no doubt that getting regular exercise is excellent for your physical, mental and emotional health, it’s important to make sure that you train within your remit and listen to your body so you don’t cause undue stress and strain.
If you’re keen to increase your activity levels without increasing your risk of injury, you may want to consider swimming more often, as the water helps to support the majority of your body weight – which makes it perfect for anyone but particularly anyone with restricted mobility, an injury of some kind, a disability, or anyone who’s pregnant or overweight.
Swimming is low impact so won’t put any pressure on your knees, hips and ankles, so it’s a great way to protect your body while still remaining active.
If you’re in chronic pain, where even the smallest movements cause you concern, you might well find that being in the pool actually helps you manage your symptoms, reducing pain through the additional support provided by the water. Over time, you may find that you’re then able to prioritise muscle building, while working on your flexibility.
Another point to bear in mind is that because water is denser than air, there’s significantly more resistance in the pool than out of it. This means you have to work harder and you’ll burn more calories when you’re swimming, so it’s an excellent option to help you stay in shape.
And it also uses all sorts of different muscle groups, many of which you can neglect when you’re lifting weights or going for a run.
Practise different strokes each time you’re in the pool to make sure you’re targeting as many different muscles as you can, which will help you develop good strength in general, as well as focusing on your core (notoriously difficult to target).
If you’d like to find out more about the health benefits of swimming, or if you’re worried about your physical health and need some advice, get in touch with the Clear Physio team today.
