Why Swimming is a Great Form of Exercise for Seniors

Swimming is an effective way for seniors to stay physically active and boost their health. Not only is it fun and relaxing, it poses less risk for injury than other activities and can be done by people of all ages and ability levels. Plus, it does not require any special training or additional equipment.

Swimming offers a wide range of benefits to seniors and can be a great way to gently exercise the entire body:

• It is gentle on the joints. Even seniors with arthritis or limited mobility can enjoy swimming. It does not put strain on the joints the way other exercises might because it is non-weight-bearing. Warm water can also help loosen stiff muscles.
• It can work the whole body. Depending on the strokes you use or movements you perform, you can engage different sets of muscles. Swimming can be a great way to strengthen and tone your body without putting stress on your back, hips, or knees.
• It can enhance cardiovascular health. You can build your endurance and strengthen your heart and lungs as you swim or do water aerobics. It can be a good way to control and expand your breathing as well as improve circulation. A healthy heart goes a long way.
• It can improve mental health. Swimming is an activity you can do alone, or with friends. Getting a group together to work out in the pool can be a wonderful way to socialize and have fun while exercising. You can alleviate stress and boost your confidence as you feel your strength and flexibility improving. Simply being able to move more freely and with less joint pain can enhance your mood.

There are a variety of different ways to exercise in the water too:

• Swimming laps. Challenge yourself and learn different strokes, try to beat your best time, or work to improve your technique.
• Join an exercise class. Many recreation centers or pools have classes specifically for seniors. They may include things such as water aerobics, water dancing, water walking, or water yoga. A professional will lead you through as assortment of exercises and work on form, technique, and safety. They can adjust exercises to your needs and abilities.
• Engage in recreational activities. Enjoy socializing with friends as you gently move, stretch, and splash about. You can play games such as catch, basketball, or water polo if you have a group. Some pools offer organized water sports if that is something you enjoy.

Working out in the water can have benefits on land as well, such as helping reduce risk of falls. It can improve your flexibility as well as your balance because you have to steady yourself against the movement of the water as well as your own buoyancy.

Talk to your doctor about whether a water workout is right for you, and how it can enhance your health and well-being. An in-home caregiver can help you incorporate trips to the pool into your daily or weekly routine, as well as exercising at home to increase your coordination, balance, flexibility, strength, and much more. It can be motivating to have a workout buddy and companion to keep you company.

Contact Always Best Care at 403-812-0778 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about the benefits of in-home care.