In addition to having no age limit to start or stop, this sport brings countless physical, mental and emotional benefits. You’ve probably heard that swimming is an excellent ally for reducing respiratory problems, especially in children, but the benefits of this sport are notable and go much further. Swimming especially stands out […]
In addition to having no age limit to start or stop, sport brings countless benefits on a physical, mental and emotional level.
You’ve probably heard that swimming is a great way to reduce respiratory problems, especially in children, but the benefits of this sport go far beyond that. Swimming stands out above all because it is a low-impact activity, that is, it does not put excessive strain on the joints and knees, for example, which makes it a practice recommended for all ages.
The whole body in action
Although it seems like a “lighter” exercise, swimming is a sport that works and develops the whole body during its practice, as explained by Matheus Vianna, personal trainer of the pool team. Nutrindo Ideales Institute and creator of the Performance+ method. It is able to bring numerous physical benefits, such as:
- Improved cardiovascular health;
- Improves the capacity of the muscles and respiratory organs, such as the diaphragm and lungs respectively;
- Improved motor coordination;
- Balance of the lower and upper limbs;
- Muscle strength;
- Focus;
- Concentration;
- Muscular and cardiorespiratory endurance.
“In addition to the many physical benefits, it is also able to provide greater safety in aquatic environments for survival and play. And not only for children, but also for adults,” adds the professional.
In swimming, the mind also wins
And of course, as we already know, practicing sports does not neglect the improvement of mental and emotional health. Swimming, like any other activity, requires strength, concentration and focus. According to Matheus Vianna this causes the release of pleasure and well-being hormones. “They act directly in the brain, and these hormones act on a neural level, playing an important role in the mood and happiness of those who practice them,” he explains.
When to start swimming?
Practically from inside mom’s belly! Jokes aside, the personal trainer says that you can start swimming at six months. In this phase, psychomotor development, socialization, the fight against obesity, muscle tone, injury prevention, improvement of sleep and cardiorespiratory capacity, etc. are stimulated.
In adulthood and the period we know as old age, the goal is different. “It is recommended to work on the development of physical skills. These include muscle strength, endurance, power, improving balance in and out of the water and not exactly improving swimming,” says the professional.
“A child who knows how to swim is a safer child in the water and calmer parents, in addition, of course, to the development of physical and mental skills.”
There is no age to start (or stop!)
The best thing about swimming is that you can start practicing this sport from six months of age, without any limitation on the beginning or the end. But Matheus warns that it’s important to do a physical assessment beforehand. “The ideal is to make sure that the person has all the physical conditions to be able to perform the exercise, because although it may seem easy, swimming requires strength, endurance, motor control, as well as other important physical skills,” he advises. “With the doctor’s approval there are no problems related to age and swimming,” adds the personal trainer.
Swimming helps recovery
Another positive effect of swimming on physical health is that it can aid in injury rehabilitation. This happens, according to Matheus Vianna, because the activity “suffers” from physical effects in its practice, such as buoyancy, the action of gravity, among others. “It is therefore an excellent sport for a rehabilitation and impact reduction phase. This is because it helps the movement of the joints that are in the recovery phase”, he concludes.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
