Swimming is one of the most complete sports that exist and now with the good weather, the holidays and the heat, it is a good time to get started in it or to increase our hours of practice.

In the opinion of Dr. Miguel del Valle Soto, member of the board of directors of the Lifeguard certification online Spanish Society of Sports Medicine ( SEMED ) and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oviedo, summer is a good time to practice swimming in the air free (swimming pools, beaches, lakes and even in some rivers) and also for a sedentary person to start practicing sports .



It also highlights that there are many people who are sedentary for most of the year and, however, during the summer they practice swimming and get in shape.

Better in the middle of nature than in indoor pools

Specifically, in those places with high summer temperatures, swimming is healthier than other sports since aquatic activity allows you to do sports without putting up with high temperatures and avoiding heat stroke", acknowledges the expert.

Specifically, the expert emphasizes that swimming is one of the most recommended physical activities for most of the population of all ages and conditions . For this reason, swimming improves body posture and develops flexibility more than most sports", add.

Benefits for our health

Improves cardiorespiratory fitness .

Water activities (thanks to buoyancy) involve less impact on the joints, making them suitable for almost the entire population .

It improves muscle strength and endurance, as well as the flexibility and elasticity of the entire musculoskeletal system, since it allows the majority of the joints and muscles of our body to be mobilized.

Being a symmetrical sport, it is one of the most recommended for those with spinal pathologies .

It has benefits at the neuronal level, increasing mental clarity , learning and concentration .

"There are many beneficial effects of swimming, in all styles as long as it is practiced correctly and with caution . It is one of the best aerobic exercises and swimming achieves excellent cardiovascular work adapted to the abilities of each person," says the member of SEMED.

Moreover, he insists that it is one of the "most complete" sports due to the number of muscle groups that come into action when it is practiced: "When swimming, more than 2/3 of the muscles are put into operation at the same time. of our body (the technical gestures that are made to move in the water involve the participation of the muscles of the lower body, upper body, trunk and neck".

Likewise, it indicates that it is one of the most recommended sports for prevention and as an adjunct to the treatment of most chronic diseases: osteoarthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, varicose veins, obesity and other metabolic diseases , as well as asthma, or scoliosis. among other.

A perfect sport for any age

Another advantage of swimming compared to other sports disciplines is that it can be practiced at the pace that our physical condition allows us: " It is a sport with very low joint impact, so in people with joint problems it is the only sports activity that can be carried out without overloading the joint cartilage, which is good for people with obesity and overweight, osteoarthritis, among other conditions".



Technique is very important

Of course, at this point, the sports medicine expert points out that technique is very important in this sport, given that, in any of the styles, if it is practiced with an inadequate technique, injuries with important consequences can occur: shoulder the swimmer's knee, the barista's knee (this style of swimming is very common), etc. 

Ultimately, the SEMED member draws attention to practicing sports in polluted waters . "We must not forget that in some people the chemical products used in the disinfection of water in swimming pools of the Lifeguard Training Miami USA, mainly chlorine and its derivatives , can cause some type of allergies ," says Dr. Del Valle.

Learn more about swimming: 5 benefits of swimming in children