By: Dr. Ryan Lee
With Memorial Day being the unofficial start to summer, many of us will be visiting pools or the beach as a great way to cool off. And as we dive into summer, we can fully enjoy the many benefits that swimming has to offer. Not only is swimming refreshing, but it is also a great workout. Swimming puts little to no stress on the back, is good for all age groups, and is a low impact exercise. Even if you aren’t big on swimming, there are plenty of exercises you can do in the pool that are just as effective as taking a long swim, like water aerobics.
We all know that swimming can be a great exercise, and it can also be very relaxing. Swimming can have many benefits, especially when paired with chiropractic care. So, what are some of the benefits? In this article we’ll look at a few benefits of swimming paired with chiropractic care, including pain reduction and increased mobility of your joints and muscles.
Low impact exercise
Swimming is a great way to get a cardio workout, but it’s also low impact. If you have back pain or simply want to exercise without putting pressure on your spine, swimming is an ideal workout. High-impact exercises like running may put too much pressure on your back, which can lead to discomfort or even injury. Swimming allows you to get in a good workout without irritating your body. Since most of your weight is supported by the water, your weight is not placed on your joints which can cause discomfort. You get to exercise without worrying about how your joints will feel during or afterward. As an added bonus, it’s usually easier to stick with an exercise routine if you don’t feel sore afterward!
Water is a stress reliever
Water therapy, like swimming, can work as a stress reliever. Pools (especially heated pools) can make your muscles feel more flexible, loosen up tense joints and create an all-around relaxing effect. It’s a great way to spend a little bit of time each day to get away from everyday stresses. Relaxing in water also increases blood flow which reduces heart rate. The buoyancy of water has also been shown to help people heal faster from injuries or surgeries by relieving them of excess weight-bearing stress on limbs and tendons.
Swimming Helps to Increase Physical Endurance
Research shows that one of the best workouts a person can do is swimming. Swimming requires a wide range of muscle movements, including pulling and lifting. Over time, swimming can strengthen your back muscles as well as your core muscles. Additionally, swimming burns calories in a very low-impact way that can improve your heart health. Swimming can help you become more fit overall, helping you achieve those midsection goals. Plus, swimming is easy on your joints since it’s less jarring than other high-impact activities like running or biking. If you have any pain in your lower back area or are otherwise looking for an exercise to strengthen your back muscles and ease joint discomfort over time, consider learning how to swim.
Swimming Improves Flexibility
Swimming is an excellent way to exercise that helps with flexibility. This is because water reduces pain associated with overstretching, which can occur when working out on land. In addition, swimming helps strengthen connective tissue (ligaments, tendons and muscles) that support your spine as well as any vertebrae or joints damaged in a car accident. As your body adapts to physical activities like swimming it becomes less susceptible to injury from everyday aches or strains. Swimmers also experience less muscle soreness after a workout than non-swimmers because their muscles are stretched prior to exercising in them. Your entire back will thank you for swimming!
Swimming and Chiropractic Care
Swimming is a great exercise to combat lower back pain. Swimming not only increases overall muscle tone, but helps strengthen individual muscles as well. Since swimming works out every part of your body at once, it’s an excellent total-body exercise for everyone from those who already suffer from back pain to those who are trying to prevent it. And unlike other forms of exercise, swimming doesn’t strain joints or put pressure on bones – so if you’re recovering from an injury or surgery, swimming can help you get back into shape without causing further damage. Pair swimming and other low impact exercise with routine chiropractic care and you should start to experience less pain and improved well-being.
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Dr. Ryan Lee is the practicing chiropractic physician at Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic. For his full bio, click here. *This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Ryan Lee and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Lee does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
