Health effects of swimming you do not know about
02/05/2021 | Written by Nikos Kaskaras in Fitness & Nutrition Tips
Swimming is great for your health. All people know that regardless of their swim competence. It's great because it keeps us safe from drowning, it makes us more fit, it enhances our health (cardiovascular system, stamina etc). Nonetheless, you would be surprised by the other health effects of swimming that you probably don't know about. Injured people who are in the stage of rehabilitation, parents who want to prepare perfectly their kids for their adult life and individuals who wish to develop their social skills can gain great benefits from swimming. Keep on reading to find out how.
Swimming improves social skills
“Man is a social animal. Only gods and beasts can live alone”, said Aristotle, the great ancient Greek philosopher. This assumption that is valid beyond any doubt, has been violated by the realities of current life: The emergence of Covid-19 came like the top of the iceberg to the alienated lifestyle that a great number of people live in big cities. Social distress can cause serious health issues: Absence of social contact leads to high levels of stress while social isolation and low levels of social support are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Swimming is greatly beneficial for the development and improvement of social skills. It's not just the interaction with the swim coach but also the relations to the other swimmers that will put you within a social context with tremendous interaction possibilities. Swimming is about cooperating as well as competing, it's about learning new things every day from other people and living the joy of sharing experience, feelings and emotions. It's about living a fulfilling life, it's about togetherness and the warmth it brings.
Swimming helps to recover from accidents
Another extremely positive effect of swimming is the relief it provides to people recovering from accidents. Water is highly beneficial for the process of rehabilitation regarding bone and joint injuries. Water's properties facilitate movement and the buoyancy factor adds more to that, allowing a full working of the aching parts of the body. Aquatic therapeutic effects are highly recommended by doctors and include many physical injuries:
- Back pain
- Sprain Strain
- Tears Muscles
- Ligaments Tendons
Many documented cases prove the crucial role that swimming can play in helping badly injured people to recover. By reading this extensive article you can also see how the social factor, that we discussed above, is always present. There's always a strong correlation between physical and psychological gains that swimming provides. Swimming for recovery can be the ultimate therapy for various cases. The Guardian's example of the alcoholic person who used swimming to stay sober is indicative of the variety of different people facing different problems who are stating gracefully the positive role of swimming through their recovery.
Swimming prepares kids for a productive adult life
Most parents enrol their kids to swim classes for ensuring the prevention of drowning. Of course, this is obvious and justified. I repeat that in sea countries like Australia, there shall not be even one person who is not able to swim. It's a matter of elementary prevention. Beyond that, however, there are other important advantages that children can gain on a long-term basis. Firstly, the whole learning process itself provides the framework of self-confidence and achievement, which are both significant “tools” for reaching success at any stage of life. Then, the kids learn that they need a method for achieving anything. They need to take carefully planned steps before they can swim safely by themselves. Just like in adult life, where everybody needs the assistance and trust of their employers and fellows when making the first career steps. All parents should also take into consideration the social factor of meeting new people, making new friends and learning how to be part of a team effort. The milestones of learning how to swim (from the first classes to the final mastering of the skill) are relevant to the milestones that exist in adult life. Taking such valuable lessons from a young age is always a plus.
Swimming extends life span
Scientific evidence is striking: Swimmers are 50 % less likely to die than walkers or runners. The relevant long-term study followed more than 40.000 men for 32 years, thus its validity is unquestionable. Furthermore, there is considerably less body burden when swimming compared to walking or running. Such findings are indicative of the broader effects of swimming on health. What is very important as well, is that swimmers enjoy better quality in their lives. Swimming ensures more and better years of life, because it enhances lung capacity, strengthens the heart and works all parts of the body within a floating environment. Again, physical and mental attributes are interconnected: Physical endurance and flexibility lead to better mood and increased self-confidence and altogether lead to longevity. Living a long and healthy life is mostly a sequence of clever choices. Adding swimming to your daily routine is one such choice.
