Swimming: what's it good for and what's it bad for?

Author Loránd Szabó | 2019.08.21.

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In the summer, more and more people go outdoors to go swimming, sunbathing and swimming. In cooler weather, the weather forces sports enthusiasts and the more determined hobby swimmers into enclosed pools, but conditions are also more attractive for those who don't want to swim in cold water. You don't have to say goodbye to swimming in autumn either, as it's good for your body.

Our private physiotherapist, Loránd Domokos Szabó on the effects of swimming on your body in our article below.

Regular exercise is beneficial and beneficial for your body, but there are a few cases where it is not recommended.

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What are the benefits of swimming?

• Anyone can start, even if they didn't learn the right techniques as a child. Just a few hours with a swimming instructor and then you can practise on your own every day!
• After any previous musculoskeletal injury, it is the best place to start playing sport again. Because the buoyancy of the water creates a „safe” environment, you are not putting your full weight on the joints, but can reduce it to 10%.
• A good cardio workout that improves circulation, increases lung capacity and thus endurance, which can also lower resting heart rate and blood pressure.
• It stimulates the brain, so you can get a boost before work or studying, and it makes you feel good.
• Very good stress reliever! The movement itself produces endorphins, so it reduces your stress levels, but it also dulls your senses, so not as much information gets to the brain, so you can „switch off” in the water.
• Symmetrical movement, which is essential for the nervous system. There are many asymmetric stimuli and impacts during the day, which need to be compensated for to avoid permanent changes in posture and movement patterns. You can correct this by swimming.
• It is also one of the best complementary forms of exercise for scoliosis.

What is swimming not good for?

• Swimming is not the best way to strengthen your core muscles, especially your back muscles. In this case, the buoyancy force mentioned earlier is in effect, so you have to overcome the resistance of the water and other minor forces, which are negligible compared to the effects of gravity. In such cases, land-based gymnastics is recommended as a priority.
• The same is true for increasing and maintaining bone density. It's important to work your muscles against gravity to put a load on your body. This also helps to build up bone tissue at a young age, or slow down the loss of bone mass at a middle or older age. This is not possible in water for the reasons mentioned above.

If you have a persistent sedentary lifestyle and want to change it, you should always consult a musculoskeletal specialist or physiotherapist first.

In our clinics, we can help you with individualised advice on how to start exercising. As swimming alone is not enough to maintain muscle strength and bone density, it is recommended that you combine it with some form of land-based exercise, also tailored to your individual needs.