Swimming is one of the sports most recommended by locals and strangers, not only as a sports practice but also as a recreational, therapeutic, or free time activity with a lifeguard course. It is even one of the most appropriate alternatives for older adults to do.
It does not matter what the adjective is – elderly person, elderly person, elderly person-; If you are close to 60 years of age or older, we advise you to make swimming part of your day-to-day life.
This sports practice can offer you benefits from an early age; In addition to accompanying you during all stages of your life, it is also advised that it be present in older adulthood.
Swimming for seniors
From the age of 60 onwards, human beings enter the last stage of aging. In this, the organism is the result of everything you have done over the years; In short, it is time to reap all that you have harvested.
There, the organism at a physical and physiological level is the living reflection of your habits in all aspects. However, this does not mean that you are at an age in which you should neglect yourself, quite the contrary. It is never too late to start taking care of yourself or continue with healthy practices. In that order of ideas, swimming can offer you various benefits and you can do it without any problem.
Benefits of swimming in older adults
Performing this sport practice regularly can offer you many advantages, regardless of where you are in your life. If you are an older adult, you can enjoy the following benefits.
It can help prevent osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is linked to skeletal system disease in which the bones become more porous, increasing its fragility and the likelihood of a major problem as a fracture.
Despite this, regular physical activity through swimming can help prevent this disease. In case of suffering it, it gives you a hand so that its impact is not so significant.
This occurs thanks to the bone and muscle strengthening obtained by movements within the pool. It should be noted that obtaining this benefit requires perseverance in practice.
Strengthen the cardiorespiratory system
When doing physical activity in the pool, the heart and lung rates would increase according to the intensity. In older adults, a moderate intensity should be handled in order to avoid any inconvenience. However, the intensity that you handle in the water depends on the indications and recommendations of your doctor.
On the other hand, the pressure of the water also exerts a little force on the walls of the heart and lungs. Over time, due to this pressure, the muscles in these areas gain resistance and are strengthened in a good way.
May help stimulate blood circulation
In the same way that it happens with the heart, swimming would stimulate the circulatory system in general. Physical activity in the water would improve blood circulation and help clean the arteries.
Even if you suffer from hypertension or vascular problems related to fat, this sport practice could reduce the negative effects on your body. This is thanks to the horizontal position of the body, the constant movements, and the pressure of the water.
Decrease the joint impact
One of the conditions that older adults suffer the most is related to the joints. Various pathologies take their toll due to age and other problems.
However, within the water surface, the joint impact decreases considerably, which is why you should practice this sport. Thanks to this benefit, problems such as joint wear and tear can have a late effect on your body.
Older adults, between swimming and controls
Swimming offers you endless possibilities as an older adult; In spite of this, you must maintain constant medical control in order to prevent any problems or detect the appearance of any disease.
Your GP has the final say regarding your visits to the pool. In addition, swimming can also be part of your rehabilitation process if you use it as a therapeutic method, but this also depends on your regular check-ups.
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