Healthy water sports: How to start swimming!

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A river, a lake, a swimming pool, just a dive away. The warm season offers the opportunity to practice a fitness sport that doesn’t seem to make you sweat. One of the most original is one of the simplest. What do you need for a swim, other than a bikini, a swimsuit and maybe a hat? Especially since you have nothing to bother many amateur swimmers in the summer: the feeling of gasping when you have chlorine in your nose and counting the tiles of the indoor pool. Outdoors everything looks much more natural.

Swimming is a true national sport. Nearly three million Swiss said they get into the water at least 20 times a year. For almost four percent of the population, it’s even the main sport. Because they know very well: swimming is very healthy.

For legs, for arms, for torso

Dr. with medical Alexandra Kronenberg (46) He is an internist FMH specialist, also a trained sports physician SGSM, caring for teams and individual athletes in a variety of disciplines. Kronenberg is not only familiar with the water, he is also an active triathlete, he took part in the famous Ironman in Hawaii and successfully finished it.

Legs, arms, torso: everything gets stronger when swimming. The effect of this single element that makes planet Earth so special: H2O. This. Different laws of nature apply here than when running on land. In water, only one tenth of the weight is on the body. You feel almost weightless. It’s true that progress has been slower, but “movements in the water are easier than on land,” says Dr. Kronenberg. Good for people with joint problems or overweight.

Low risk of injury

The water provides even a small massage during exercise: “Hydrostatic pressure massages the connective tissue and improves venous return,” says Kronenberg. Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure caused by the action of gravity on water. The expert lists another plus: “The airways are less irritated from the humid environment, which can be an advantage for asthmatics.” Of course, this is especially true for swimming in water, less so for chlorine baths.

Wrist sprain, muscle pull, bruising anywhere on the body: These types of typical sports injuries are the absolute exception when it comes to swimming. However, water sports are not completely risk-free. No, especially if you swim intensively and for a long time. “The term swimmer’s shoulder is no coincidence,” says Kronenberg. Anyone who sees the crawling motion can understand that the shoulder is exposed, especially when swimming. The tendons and bursa in the joint can become inflamed if pushed too hard. In the case of amateurs, incorrect technique is often partially responsible for the pain, while for professionals this is a high training load with a workload of 100 kilometers per week and more. Of course in the water.

loosen your neck

Heavy swimmers can suffer from knee problems. In the chest technique, the frog-like movement of the legs puts pressure on these joints. Breaststroke is not recommended for those with knee problems. Back pain can occur in dolphin specialists.

Lay people should ensure that they do not keep their heads above water and do not strain their spine. The truth is, swimming is a water sport. It can also make your head wet.

Small cause, big impact

But the biggest problem for swimmers is that humans are not aquatic creatures. Fatal swimming accidents often occur in Switzerland during the hot summer months. Victims are not just bad swimmers, a health issue like cramping or shortness of breath can quickly lead to a life-threatening condition.

The fastest swimmer of all time, Brazilian César Cielo Filho, swam the 100 meters with a world record of 46.91 seconds. Jamaican Usain Bolt runs the same distance on land in about one-fifth (9.58). No comparison can make this clearer: Humans actually belong to land, not water. But that’s exactly why swimming fascinates us so much.

4 tips from the coach

1. “Driving without force”

«First lie down in the water and find the right position in the water. It allows you to float on the surface without any effort. Too many swimmers use too much energy to stay afloat.”

2. «On your back first»

“For casual swimmers, the most logical technique would be: backstroke. Movement is the easiest. Orientation is what keeps most people from doing it. Ideally, you would swim in a separate lane.”

3. «This is not the chest»

“If you care more about hair than swimming, fine. But then it’s not really about chest technique. The head should always be in line with the spine. The face is in the water.”

4. “Let us advise you”

“Who can see if you’re doing everything right? Ask a swimming friend or expert to watch you swim and then provide feedback.”

Source : Blick