There are many benefits of swimming including relaxation, pain relief and, of course, exercise. While it’s no secret that hitting the pool is an excellent way to get the heart pumping and burn some calories, there seems to be a misconception that aquatic exercise is primarily for the super-fit triathlete training for his or her next race or use as aquatic therapy for older populations suffering from arthritis.
But what if you fall somewhere in between? Will a water workout still be beneficial and a good use of the little training time you have?
The answer: Yes!
The benefits of exercising in water are numerous and offer something for everyone, no matter what age or level of fitness.
Reduction of Stress Placed on Joints
The natural buoyancy of water reduces the impact, or stress, placed on joints. Exercising in water allows you to get a great workout while reducing the amount of ware-and-tear placed on your body. Even though you may not suffer from sore joints or other degenerative symptoms now, our bodies are machines, and just like all machines, daily use and stresses accumulate over time, eventually tiring the system increasing the chances of future injuries, aches and pains, and loss of range of motion. We only get one body, so it’s important to protect it now!
Safe & Effective Way to Increase Resistance
Thanks to a wide variety of pool exercise equipment, running, cycling and other exercises aimed at increasing overall strength can be performed in water. The water provides an additional source of resistance without placing direct loads on delicate joints and is a safer way to overload muscles (which is how our bodies get stronger) compared to wearing weighted vests, etc. All-in-all, working out in water is a fun and effective way to make your workouts tougher and can make you faster out of the water without the risk of injury.
Stay Cool While Working Out on Hot Days
This is a perk that is especially beneficial for those living in places where summer temps can become unbearably hot. Taking your workout session to the pool will help your body stay cool and help prevent hyperthermia, a condition where the body can no longer regulate its temperature resulting in dangerous overheating. So the next time you want to workout during the hottest hours of the day, take it to pool!
And if you have sore muscles after a tough work out, be sure to hit the hot tub to relieve tired and achy muscles!
Check out some of these water exercises you can do in the pool that don’t require any additional equipment!
