Swimming is not only a way to cool off on hot summer days but also beneficial for health. This is especially true for seniors, who tend to lose their strength as they age. As they become more fragile, their ability to indulge in high-intensity workouts becomes nearly impossible. In addition, high-intensity workouts for seniors can lead to possible injuries and other problems.
Swimming gives everyone an opportunity to exercise their muscles safely because of its low intensity. But along with being gentle to the body, swimming comes with great benefits for seniors. According to the Swim Strong Foundation, men can burn 900 calories if they breaststroke for 30 minutes 3 times a week. This is nearly equivalent to the traditional high-intensity workouts performed in the gym.
Let’s explore the topic further and learn why should seniors swim more often.
5 Reasons Seniors Should Be Encouraged to Swim
Staying physically active is essential for seniors to maintain good health and prevent emerging diseases. Swimming makes this possible by enabling seniors to work every muscle in their body with minimal risks. Aside from being good for physical health, swimming helps seniors in various other areas, too. For example, it allows them to socialize, improve their stability, and promote their cardiovascular health. Keep reading to learn about all this in-depth.
Here are 5 reasons senior citizens should spend more time in the pool.
Ideal for Aging Joints
In swimming, you don’t have to lift any heavy weights to work your muscles. Instead, swimming is a low-impact exercise that puts any pressure on your joints, spine, or hips. This is because water itself supports your body weight and reduces the effects of gravity. This has a significant impact on reducing the strain caused on joints.
Swimming is specifically helpful for seniors who are experiencing arthritis. Arthritis is a joint inflammation usually caused by overuse, genetics, infection, or other reasons. According to a study, swimming helped alleviate the pain of knee osteoarthritis. Considering these benefits, seniors get swimming with dolphins tickets to enjoy their time in the pool without getting bored.
Prevents Insomnia and Relieves Stress
Insomnia and other sleeping problems are common among senior citizens. Poor sleeping habits can be critical for health, and it can lead to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Aerobic workouts like swimming are known to alleviate the symptoms of insomnia and promote better sleep quality.
Swimming is known to burn calories; as discussed above, it can burn up to 900 calories. After swimming for a few laps, you will feel more tired, and therefore, it will become easier to fall asleep. Also, some people find swimming to be something that relaxes them, which can also assist in falling asleep.
Promotes Cardiovascular Health
The effects of aging are significant on the cardiovascular health. Changes in the heart and blood vessels increase seniors risk of developing certain cardiovascular diseases. According to the Swim Strong Foundation, swimming can minimize the risk of coronary heart disease. Along with this, swimming for 30 minutes daily also prevents type 2 diabetes.
Doing aerobic exercises on a regular basis can also decrease the blood pressure levels. Swimming is the type of exercise that can promote your heart health while allowing you to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. This minimizes the risk of heart attack, which is very common among senior citizens.
Minimizes Fall Risks
Falling is another common issue among seniors due to their weakened strength and affected stability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is an estimated total of 424,000 falls per year. Around 37.3 falls have required medical attention. These stats also show that elder citizens have much longer hospital stays even after a low-impact fall.
Studies show that 1,700 senior swimmers were less likely to fall than those who engaged in other sports activities. This is because swimming helps seniors train their upper body, leg, and core muscles. Therefore, by improving their muscle strength, the fall risk is significantly reduced due to improved posture and stability.
No Physical Discomfort
Physical activities are essential for seniors to maintain a good physique and prevent certain diseases. However, running, going to the gym, or doing other types of exercise may not be comfortable for some people. Swimming provides seniors with a comfortable way to exercise without pressurizing their aging knees, joints, spine, and hips.
Since water carries your body and supports 90% of your body, a pool can be an excellent place to exercise. You can also achieve your other goals, such as reducing your weight with minimal effort and without any discomfort. You can grab swimming with dolphins tickets to swim with friendly mammals and make your pool time more enjoyable.
Are You Looking for an Ideal Place to Swim?
Swimming can get boring; therefore, having pool activities is essential to enhance your swimming experience. You can head to a pool with dolphins and other activities to enjoy your swim sessions to the fullest. Feel free to grab your tickets online and head to the pool to reap maximum swimming benefits.
