What are the particular health benefits of swimming?
The health benefits of being physically active attach to a range of activities as set out in the Chief Medical Officer’s report. However, swimming has some unique benefits: • 30 minutes of steady paced lane swimming burns over 200 calories – well over 400 in an hour. • Any swimming that makes you breathe more heavily counts as ‘moderate’ activity. Even treading water takes effort, so you are working most of the time you’re in the pool. • The pressure and resistance of the water makes your body work that little bit harder. 30 minutes of activity in the water is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land. • The water takes your weight, so swimming can be great for those who want low impact exercise – women during pregnancy for example, or for people who have mobility problems or want to protect their joints. • Swimming works your whole body for all over toning! • Swimming is great for your heart. Because you are using your whole body your heart has to pump blood hard to your arms and
