Swimming Isn't Just For The Kiddies! - August 19, 2010

Dear Friends of Roscoe Chiropractic,

This cooler weather may have many of you thinking of fall, but it is still summer for a little while longer and in a desperate attempt to hold on to summer, I'm going to talk about swimming.

The benefits of swimming stem from it being a NON-Impact exercise. For people who generally participate in impact sports like running, aerobics, or tennis, swimming can give your bones and joints a needed rest. Also, just by including swimming into your fitness routine can provide great cross-training. Water supports the body's weight and lets you receive the same aerobic exercise without the stress on bones and joints associated with other sports. This is especially good for those suffering from injury.

Swimming can also have a beneficial effect on those suffering from Osteoarthritis. Swimming in water that stays around 80 degrees F allows for movement that is often without pain and restriction unlike the same movement outside of water. This allows for Osteoarthritis sufferers to benefit from exercise without the pain they'd usually feel.

Research also concludes that swimming has definite benefits for people who suffer from Asthma. It is less likely to trigger an asthma attack than activities like biking or running. It is speculated that the high humidity of the air at water level reduces respiratory heat loss which can also stave off asthma symptoms.

Exercise in general has been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Swimming as a daily exercise can be as effective as an anti-depressant medication without the side affects! The benefits can be had, even if you don't get your heart rate up while swimming, in fact it was shown that non-aerobic conditions were superior to the aerobic conditions for enhancing self-concept.

Aside from the general benefits of exercise, swimming is incredibly healthy for your heart! The key to maximizing the cardiovascular benefit is getting your head wet! Swimming with full body immersion offered superior heart friendly benefits according to one study. Regular swimming reduces blood pressure and also increases the good form of cholesterol in your body.

The obvious benefit of any exercise is weight loss and control. Swimming plays a significant role in a weight loss goal. It fits the criteria for a good weight loss plan: Low to moderate intensity for a long duration and done often is best for weight loss. This fact also bears true for children and weight control goals.

I hope we all have several more weeks of weather conducive for swimming so we can all put these health benefits into action!

Thanks for reading and stay healthy!

Karla H.
Roscoe Chiropractic Centre