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There are plenty of reasons why going for a dip is a great idea. Some reasons are more obvious than others. Get-Fit Guy takes a deeper dive (ahem) into some of the more surprising benefits of going for a swim.
#1 - Swimming improves coordination, balance and posture
When you think about your day, how much time do you spend in an upright position? Now think about how much time you spend in a prone position. Aside from being asleep (which is not a particularly active thing, hopefully), we don't spend all that much time doing activities in this very different body position. For that reason, among others, swimming is the perfect activity to challenge ourselves and build new neuronal connections that allow us to become more proficient at moving on completely different planes and in completely different body positions.
#2 - Swimming improves flexibility
Swimming requires that we move our bodies (mostly our limbs) through a large range of motion. This means that your joints must adjust accordingly in order to achieve good power and speed in the water. We all know that maintaining flexibility and mobility as we age is important, but it also matters for you active youngsters out there who want to perform well and avoid injury.
#3 - Swimming provides low-impact movement
This benefit is especially helpful for people who are recovering from some type of injury or those living with other limiting physical conditions. Also, due to the joint-saving lowered gravity environment that water provides, it is very helpful as a recovery workout. Which leads me to the next benefit
#4 - Swimming is a great activity for cross-training
If you are a weightlifter, throwing in the odd cardio session or yoga class can be a great way to help stay flexible and energetic. And if you are a human on this planet, moving as many limbs, in as many directions, on as many planes as you can is one of the best ways to stay healthy and fit. There are few better ways to get all that movement in than going for a swim.
#5 - Swimming helps build lung capacity and strength
" Meaning that even if a runner breathes just a hard as a swimmer during their workout or event, a swimmer benefits more because of the resistance of the water. It's like lifting weights with your respiratory system!
#6 - Swimming alters your muscle fibres
An older study examined the effect of a normal collegiate swimming program along with an intense 10-day training period. During the study, they examined the peak tension (Po), negative log molar Ca2+ concentration (pCa)-force, and maximal shortening speed (Vmax) of the slow-twitch type I and fast-twitch type II fibres in the swimmers' deltoid muscles. Without getting overly sciencey or confusingly nerdy, in a nutshell, the effects found during the 10-day intense swimming period were similar to someone who engaged in a sprint training program or an explosive weight training period.
#7 - Swimming lowers stress
When we go swimming, we elongate our muscles, we stretch and relax our bodies, which then allows the tension to dissipate.Yes, any kind of aerobic exercise has been shown to relieve some types of stress and even depression, but swimming holds a special power here. Let's look at it this way: when we're stressed out, our muscles get tense and tight. Tight muscles can cause other bodily reactions like headaches, back pain, and shoulder pain, which can lead to even more stress
