Medically reviewed by Dr Godmi Tresa
Swimming, the water game, which most of us loved doing as a child, is a lower-impact way of keeping up with your joint health and, of course, your overall fitness. This blog will help you explore the relationship between joint health and swimming. Further, explore the sport's benefits for rehabilitation and fitness.
Swimming is one of the most suggested exercises for people with joint issues. This low-impact, full-body exercise leaves your body with less wear and tear to your joints compared to other high-intensity, sometimes low-intensity exercises.
Swimming is one of the few exercises that comes under a one-fits-all approach. Why? Because it suits people of various ages, conditions and activity levels.
This equal-opportunity physical activity takes much less toll on your joints than other physical activities like walking, running or cycling!
Let's check out a few 'joint benefits' of swimming:
Swimming can help you improve the blood circulation through your joints. Further, it speeds up the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your joints, making them more supple and functional.
Swimming helps reduce joint inflammation when compared to other physical activities. How? It provides lesser stress on the joints by reducing the effects of gravity compared to other exercises.
Swimming makes your stiff joints supple by improving blood supply and, thereby, improving the lubrication of joints. Therefore, it enables you to access an improved range of motion.
Now let us answer the question we have been looking for: what makes a swimming joint friendly?
Swimming, as you have read earlier, takes much less toll on your joints, reducing wear and tear on your overall joint health. Why is it so?
This is because, in swimming, the buoyancy of the water is the saviour as it lessens the impact of your weight on your body. Just like how your whole body feels free when you float in water, it helps your joints feel free from the extra weight they bear during general physical activity.
Swimming supports joint pain relief for people undergoing the following health conditions:
Swimming is one of the best exercises for people with arthritis. It helps them improve their joint flexibility with enhanced circulation and reduced inflammation.
Swimming helps with better and more efficient weight management in people. Weight reduction takes offload from your joint.
Swimming can help improve overall mobility and reduce stiffness in people with fibromyalgia.
It is essential to seek professional help if you are a beginner, and also, it is important to note not to try different strokes all at once as it may leave you exhausted. Listen to your body, know your limits, and wisely schedule your swimming sessions so you can effectively utilise your energy levels.
Check out these tips to enhance your joint mobility through swimming:
The following types of swimming workouts are known to improve joint pain and mobility, especially in arthritis:
It is better to seek professional help before planning for water exercises in case of inflammatory joint conditions. Also, it would help if you took the required precautions to ensure a safe exercise.
Make sure to hydrate your body well and wear safety gear. It is also important not to stress too much on your body while exercising as it may exhaust you.
However, it is advised not to swim in water that is too hot as it can cause burns and other complications. Always ensure the water is warm enough to swim comfortably.
Swimming is a preventive and curative strategy for joint health conditions. This underappreciated exercise strategy can help you get better with many joint conditions like arthritis and manage joint health.
Swimming is an underappreciated exercise strategy for those who struggle with managing joint pain, as it helps improve circulation, reduces inflammation and increases the range of motion.
No, swimming can help you with better pain management by reducing inflammation and increasing the flexibility of joints. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that can increase the blood circulation of your joints and make them healthy by providing adequate movements with less pressure on them.
Yes, swimming can help manage arthritis as it helps in improving blood circulation to joints, improving lubrication and easing stiffness of joints.
Swimming in warm water is especially beneficial for arthritic patients as it readily relieves joint pain and muscle strain, positively impacting the stress pathway and helping them improve their tolerance to pain.
Dr Reshma N Babu
Dr Reshma N Babu is a passionate, young Ayurveda doctor who strongly believes in sharing the warmth of her knowledge in Ayurveda medicine in caring for people who are suffering from physical and mental imbalances. Dr. Reshma highlights Ayurveda not just as a medical science that cures disease but as a way of living.
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