The sport of swimming has many health related benefits that most people don't even know of. No matter age nor gender, regular swimming can keep a person fit for life. It is considered by many physicians and pediatricians to be the ideal activity for developing muscular and skeletal growth.
Why do doctors like it so much?-Swimming develops the most important key to physical fitness, high quality aerobic endurance. In most other sports an hour of practice may only contain as little as 10 minutes of meaniful excercise. Every precious second is used in swimming, developing fitness and learning skills. This is especially true if a person participates in a competitive club practice.
USA Swimming Site
-Swimming does the best job in proportional muscular development by using all of the body's major muscle groups.
-The sport of swimming will enhance a child's natural flexibility (ususally at a time when children brgin to lose it). This flexibility is enhanced by exercising all of the child's major joints through a full range of motion.
-Because of the combinations of complex movements of all parts off the body while a person is swimming, he/she will begin to develop superior coordination, enhancing harmonious muscle function, grace, and fluidity of movement.
-Of all children's sports, swimming is the sport that is the most injury-free.
-Swimming is a sport that will bring many people fitness and enjoyment for their entire life. Swimmers in the USA Swimming Master's program are still training and racing well into their 80's.
-Swimming is also a very popular rehab activity that gives a person a quick healing effect
Not only does swimming develop great physical development but it also develops greater individual intellectual competence. Learning and using new swimming skills engages the thinking process and many can explore nre ideas giving a person a stronger self image.
Resources:
-Waukesha Express Swim Team Handbook pgs. 1-2
-http://tms.ecol.net/fitness/swimpros.htm
-http://www.mamashealth.com/exercise/swimben.asp
Swimming Links
Join the local swim club!
More swimming benefits information
Some swimming drills that you can do
Swim Info.com
Wisconsin Swimming Website
