I’m sure that now that summer comes you like to be cool on the beach or in the pool. These moments are ideal to practice a sport that will help you to be healthier and lose those extra pounds. One of these water-related sports is swimming. This is a particular sport since it is individual and can be practiced throughout life. We can consider this sport in many ways. From an activity to move and burn calories, to competition, relax or strengthen the muscles involved.
Since this sport is very good for health, in this post we will focus on explaining the benefits of swimming.
Contents
Swimming as a sport
When we talk about swimming, we are referring to a type of sport that can be practiced since we have a few months of newborn until we are 80 or even older. This ability to swim allows us to move in the water thanks to a series of rhythmic movements that we perform with certain muscles involved. These rhythmic movements are fully coordinated both inferiorly and above. The body makes us stay on the surface of the water to overcome the resistance it offers us.
Performing a sport such as swimming involves using the technique so that these movements can be given in a proper way. In addition, during swimming we improve both our speed and our endurance. Our body has not been designed for swimming, so we have to make movements that are not natural and much less intuitive. The advantage of these movements is that different health benefits are obtained as we will see later.
Main objectives
main objectives pursued by swimming as a sport takes into account other special requirements as no other sports discipline does. For example, asthmatics, pregnant, epileptic and some people suffering from some physical or mental reduction may be favored with swimming.
The objectives of swimming are several. One of them is the utilitarian approach. That is, to encompass the specific needs of human beings as it is to save life. If we fall from a boat or boat during a shipwreck, knowing how to swim is essential if we want to save our lives. Another type of more sporting goals are those educational goals.
educational objectives are those that, apart from teaching swimming learning, can provide complete training to the person from both the motor, affective and cognitive perspective.
Another objective would be the hygienic and sanitary approach. Improvement of physical condition is also accompanied. These objectives can be encompassed in both competitive and recreational approaches.
Benefits of swimming as a sport
Once we have analyzed the objectives of swimming as a sport, we will analyze what are the benefits of swimming.
The first benefit is to produce a low impact on bones and joints when we are performing it. Unlike other sports such as running, we find a low-impact sport. When we dip our body into the water to swim, we realize that it weighs less, given that we are floating. This makes us not have a direct impact of asphalt or resentment of the knee when we lean on the ground. In this way, we get that the joints do not wear out and can be preserved better.
When we are swimming, we have greater flexibility and elasticity. Most of our body’s muscle groups are used in swimming. Both the upper and lower train, trunk and head. In this way, we make the joints more flexible and the muscles can be toned and strengthened. Inall, the muscles of the back strengthen quite a lot.
These advantages make swimming a highly recommended sport for people who have hernias, low back pain or various hip problems. Another benefit is to burn fat. Swimming involves a 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 by swimming. If you are starting to lose weight, this is your occasion.
Benefits swimming in health
Now let’s move on to see the direct benefits that swimming has in health. The one that nothing usually can fight certain chronic diseases such as asthma, cholesterol and diabetes. It is an aerobic exercise that, although low intensity, develops over a longer period. This helps lower blood cholesterol levels and produce increased insulin sensitivity. In this way, we managed to reduce blood glucose levels.
Improves respiratory system and pulmonary capacity. By continually exercising resistance to swim, we managed to improve our breathing capacity. In addition, swimming also submerges one underwater while we are tired, so we increase our lung capacity.
Neural and cognitive benefits are given when swimming because we start the two hemispheres of the brain. In addition, all four lobes are also activated. This causes greater neural bonds and increased activation of the brain by receiving more oxygen.
Similar to the previous benefit, 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, decreasing heart rate by pumping more blood per heartbeat. Respiratory exercises involve increased endurance.
Finally, it is interesting to mention that it also has certain psychological benefits. When we dive into water and concentrate on breathing, our body relaxes and the feeling of stress is reduced. In many people, it helps them improve their symptoms of depression. Releasing endorphins is something important in order to have a feeling of body well-being. So we managed to release the tensions we have and learn to be happier.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the benefits of swimming.
