Surely now that summer is coming, you like to be cool on the beach or in the pool. These moments are ideal to be able to practice some sport that helps you be healthier and lose those extra kilos. One of these water-related sports is swimming. It is a particular sport, because it is individual and can be practiced throughout life. We can approach this sport in many ways. From activity to move and burn calories, to competition, relaxation or strengthening of the muscles involved with lifeguard training.
Since this sport is very good for your health, in this post we will aim to explain the Swimming benefits.
1 Swimming as a sport
2 Main objectives
3 Advantages of swimming as a sport
4 Health benefits of swimming
Swimming as a sport
When we talk about swimming, we are referring to a type of sport that can be practiced from the time we are a few months old to 80 years old or even older. This ability to swim allows us to move in the water thanks to a series of rhythmic movements that we carry out with certain muscles involved. These rhythmic movements are completely coordinated both below and above. The body allows us to stay on the surface of the water to overcome the resistance it offers us.
Doing a sport like swimming involves using the technique so that these movements can be given in an appropriate way. In addition, while swimming we improve both our speed and our endurance. Our body was not designed to swim, so we have to make movements that are not natural and much less intuitive. The advantage of these movements is that various health benefits are obtained, as we will see later.
Main objectives
The main objectives of swimming as a sport consider other special requirements, like no other sports department. For example, asthmatics, pregnant women, epileptics and some people who suffer from some physical or mental reduction can be favored by the swimming practice.
The purposes of swimming are varied. One of them is the utilitarian approach. That is embracing people’s needs, like saving life. If we fall from a boat or ship during a shipwreck, knowing how to swim is essential if we want to save life. Another type of sports goals are those educational goals.
The educational goals are those that, in addition to teaching swimming learning, can give a complete training to the person from the motor, affective and cognitive perspectives.
Another goal would be the hygienic and sanitary approach. The improvement of physical condition is also accompanied. These goals can be included in both competitive and recreational approaches.
Advantages of swimming as a sport
After we have analyzed the goals of swimming as a sport, we will analyze what are the benefits of swimming.
The first advantage is to produce a low impact on the bones and joints when we do it. Unlike other sports like running, we find ourselves with a low efficiency sport. When we submerge our body in the water to swim, we realize that it weighs less because we are floating. This makes us not have a direct effect of the asphalt or knee grudge when we lean on the ground. This way we ensure that the joints do not wear out and are better preserved.
When we swim, we have greater flexibility and elasticity. Most muscle groups in our body are used in swimming. Both the upper and lower body, trunk and head. In this way we achieve that the joints are more flexible and the muscles can be colored and strengthened. S All in all, the back muscles get quite strong.
These benefits make swimming a highly recommended sport for people who have hernias, back pain or various hip problems. Another benefit is fat burning. Swimming involves movement of the whole body and action of the muscles. Depending on your weight, age and intensity at which you swim, you can burn between 500 and 700 kcal per hour swimming. If you are starting to lose weight, this is your chance.
Health benefits of swimming
Now we will see the direct benefits that swimming has for health. The one who swims regularly can fight against some chronic diseases like asthma, cholesterol and diabetes. It is an aerobic exercise that, even if it has a low intensity, takes place over a longer period. This helps lower blood cholesterol levels and makes it more sensitive to insulin. This is how we manage to reduce blood glucose levels.
Improves the respiratory system and lung capacity. By continuously exerting resistance to swimming, we can improve our breathing capacity. In addition, swimming also submerges one under water while we are tired, so we increase our lung capacity.
Neural and cognitive benefits occur while swimming because we activate both hemispheres of the brain. In addition, all four lobes are also activated. This causes more neural connections and there is already greater activation of the brain when it receives more oxygen.
Similar to the previous advantage, there are improvements in the cardiorespiratory system. It improves oxygen consumption by 10% and the heart can pump up to 18% more blood. This helps improve circulation, slowing your heart rate by pumping more blood per stroke. Breathing exercises involve increased endurance.