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Did you know that high-impact exercise can actually hurt you rather than make you healthier? People often assume that exercise has to be hard on your body to achieve results. However, healthy exercise should not be painful, and this mindset can result in injury and stress on joints. If you are experiencing pain during your workouts, listen to your body and opt for a lower impact option. One of the best exercises you can do to keep your body strong and healthy without putting too much strain on your joints is swimming.
Swimming Makes You Healthier and Stronger.
Swimming is an excellent way to exercise your entire body. It is great for your heart, muscles, coordination and flexibility. Here are a few ways that swimming contributes to your health:
- Swimming keeps your heart rate up, making it a good cardio workout.
- When you swim, you are strengthening muscles throughout your whole body. Almost all of your muscles are used when you swim.1
- Swimming is good for your lungs and heart.
- Coordination and balance are improved when swimming.
Swimming has a Low-Impact on Your Joints.
Not only does swimming help you improve your health, but it is a low-impact exercise that will take pressure off of your joints. It is often used as physical therapy for people recovering from injuries or surgery. Sarah Ellison, a physical therapist with Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, states that when you swim, "the buoyancy of the water allows you to move limbs and joints more easily through their normal range of motion".2
Go for a Swim!
If you are looking for a great workout that will burn fat and tone muscles without putting stress on your joints, swimming could be the right exercise for you. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, or just someone who is looking for a new way to stay active, swimming is an effective way to stay strong and healthy.
1. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/swimming-health-benefits
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/dive-in-for-joint-health
Dr. Yaser A. Metwally is board-certified by both the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. He received his fellowship of Reconstructive Surgery from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery.