Swimming: Best Exercise for Seniors!

by frank on July 29, 2011

You might raise an eyebrow over this topic, but yes, this is true! Swimming is one amongst the few best exercises for mature individuals and is a perfect way for them to get in shape and improve overall well being.

One of the major benefits of swimming for mature individuals is that it tones and strengthens bodies in a safe way.

Swimming is also very safe and easy because it allows older people to move their bodies without bearing their total weight. Since the body is just about the same density as water, it is easily supported by it; the water allows the joints and the bones to freely move stress-free during the swimming exercise.

With swimming, mature individuals are given a chance to be vibrant and healthy. It also helps improve mobility. Compared to other exercises which pose hazards or dangers in the joints and hips, swimming is next to walking as the safest form of exercise for mature individuals. Again, next to walking, water based exercises such as swimming have the lowest impact rate for injuries. Water also affords people more choices for those who are extremely lacking in general fitness or those who have an earlier injury that makes land-based exercises difficult. They can do stretches and strokes with the aid and support of the water.

Because swimming works the entire body, it offers the same benefits one gets when one goes into aerobic exercises or strength training.

Other benefits that can be enjoyed as a result of swimming as an exercise are as follows:

  • Improves cardiovascular conditioning
  • Greatly improves flexibility
  • Improves physical appearance due to muscle toning
  • Betters or improves posture
  • Increases muscle strength
  • Eases muscle tension
  • Improves balance
  • Maintenance of healthy weight
  • Controls appetite
  • Reduces stress
  • Reduces risk of osteoporosis

What’s also nice with swimming is the fact that it’s not really very difficult to look for swimming pools because most retirement homes or complexes have swimming pools exclusively for their residents. These indoor pools are specially equipped to meet the special needs of seniors. For example, because cold water increases joint stiffness and aggravates movement difficulty for people with arthritis, these indoor pools found in retirement homes are kept at comfortable temperatures perfect for the seniors.

Start your swimming exercise now and enjoy every minute of it!

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