swimming benefits Archives

More Than Just Keeping Fit: How Some Exercises Can Reduce the Effects of Aging

As a population, we’re aging. By some estimates, 20% of the country will be over the age of 65 by 2030. But that’s good news! It means that, in general, we’re living longer. Living longer, though, means aging, and with aging comes a variety of annoying issues that can wreak havoc on your quality of life. Eyesight fades, taste buds decrease, joints get stiff and painful, bones get weaker, muscle mass decreases, and memory can get glitchy, among other things.

Experiencing all of this is not fun, and could understandably make you want to sit some things out. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only 35-44% of adults 75 years or older, and 28-34% of adults ages 65-74, are physically active. But don’t fall into the trap of inactivity! The best thing you can do for your body and mind is get out there and get moving. Consider this: according to a study out of Taiwan, as little as 15 minutes of exercise a day could increase your lifespan by as much as three years. Not only that, but certain exercises can even target certain issues related to aging, and engaging in them could boost your chances of aging in a healthy way.

Walk Away from Your Risk of Dementia

older womana nd a younger woman walking together — *Walking 15 minutes a day can help reduce your chances of developing dementia.*

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a nice walk outside, especially now that spring is finally here! But did you know that walking can do more than boost your mood and help your heart? A study published in the journal Neurology actually found that walking approximately 72 blocks a week halted brain shrinkage and cut the risk for developing cognitive decline and dementia by 50%. That’s an incredible statistic! Add to this a Chinese study of 1,700 adults over age 65 that found that those that regularly exercised (including walking) were 47% less likely to develop dementia, and other studies showing that only 15 minutes of exercising 3 times a week can reduce the risk of dementia by a third, and there’s no reason not to lace up your sneakers and head out for a stroll around town.

Stay Balanced with Tai Chi

Maintaining your balance is vital as you age. A decrease in your balance leads to an increased risk of falling, and with one fall comes a greater risk of more falls. Think about these scary statistics: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 million older adults are treated for falls each year, with over 800,000 of them needing to be hospitalized. Falling is actually the leading cause of death due to injury, and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital trauma admissions among people over 65.

There are things you can do to improve your balance, though, and help reduce your risk of falling. In fact, one type of exercise has now been scientifically proven to reduce falls among older adults: Tai Chi. This series of gentle stretches and slow poses that flow from one to the next was pitted against more conventional exercise regimes and other types of stretching and the results were amazing. According to a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, Tai Chi reduced falls by 58% compared to other stretching exercises, and 31% compared to a more conventional exercise regime. Strength training and cardiovascular exercise are great (as we’ll see later), but when it comes to preventing falls, Tai Chi has it all beat.

Keep Things Moving with Yoga

group of women doing yoga outside — *Yoga can help your digestive organs work better, and help people with IBS.*

Is your body feeling a bit slow, in more ways than one? You’re not alone: chronic constipation is very common in adults over 60; older adults are 5 times more likely than younger people to be dealing with constipation. So what to do about it? Diet and medication can help, but have you considered trying some simple, gentle yoga poses?

Yes, yoga can help get things moving! There is even research that backs this up. For example, a 2015 study of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) found that yoga is a good way to relieve the main symptoms of IBS, which include constipation. The study also pointed out that yoga might also help address other symptoms that come along with IBS, such as anxiety and fatigue.

Twisting poses, inversions, and forward folds can “massage” your digestive organs, increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the area, which could in turn encourage stools to move through your body. Check out some yoga classes aimed at older adults, even if they have to be online, or look up poses that are beneficial to your gut. Just remember to follow instructions carefully, and stop if any pose causes you discomfort.

Jog Your Memory

Running is a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, but did you know that it can also give you a memory boost? Multiple studies, many using mice taking memory tests after being either given unlimited access to an exercise wheel or being kept sedentary, have found that aerobic exercise, like jogging, can actually improve memory function. In fact, one study out of Cambridge University found that regular jogging triggers the growth of gray matter, also known as neurogenesis. Another study from the University of Colorado, which might be particularly interesting to older adults who are more prone to illnesses, found that jogging is also very effective at protecting against memory loss after being sick. And don’t worry: you can do your jogging outside, no hamster wheel required!

Strengthen Your Bones

It’s definitely no secret that thinning of the bones, or osteoporosis, is a major problem among older adults, especially women. While older men can also suffer from osteoporosis or low bone mass (ostepenia), an estimated 35% of postmenopausal women have osteoporosis of the hip, spine, or distal forearm, and roughly 4 in 10 older women in the United States will experience a hip, spine, or wrist fracture at some point.

But no matter your gender, if you have problems with your bones, you could be facing serious injury – so what can you do? Your best defense against bone loss and bone disease is weight-bearing or load-bearing exercise. Studies show that doing this type of exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week, can help you build muscles, which then exert more force on your bones, causing the bones to become stronger and denser. Try lifting weights, walking, or climbing stairs to keep those muscles and bones strong and healthy.

Beat the Swelling

Let’s back up a little. To do many of these types of exercises, you’re going to need to rely on your legs and feet, and if you’re experiencing uncomfortable swelling in that area, or peripheral edema, as many older adults do, you might be less inclined to get started. Increase circulation and help fluid move more easily through your body by trying exercises like leg circles or calf raises.

Ease Pain with a Few Strokes

older woman and younger woman swimming in a pool — *Swimming can help relieve arthritis pain.*

There might be no better exercise for older adults than swimming. And if you’ve got arthritis and are reluctant to do a lot of load-bearing exercise, getting in a nice, warm pool might be just right for you. When you swim, around 90% of your body weight is supported by the water. The relatively weightless environment and support from the water helps to overcome painful movement in the joints that are affected by the arthritis.

Not only is swimming a more comfortable exercise choice for those suffering from joint pain, but it has actually been proven effective at helping seniors deal with their arthritis. According to a 2016 study, swimming helps to relieve pain and improve quality of life among people with knee osteoarthritis just as effectively as walking; another Canadian study of older adults with osteoarthritis of the hip found that swimming reduced their chances of falling and breaking a bone. It’s worth your time to try things like aqua jogging, aqua aerobics, and just some good old fashioned laps!

There’s no doubt that aging comes with certain challenges. Sometimes it seems like your body and mind are being threatened from all sides! But you don’t have to take it all sitting down – in fact, getting up and getting moving can be beneficial in more ways than we previously thought. Try out some of the solutions above to keep you on the road to aging in a healthy and happy way!

The Leading Cause Of Childhood Mortality Has A Simple Solution

Swim Lessons. This might seem like a common sense solution but you would be surprised how many parents wait too long to get their child comfortable in the water. If you own a pool or are frequently around bodies of water it is important to get your child acclimated with the water as soon as possible to prevent drowning. Parents picture worst-case scenarios everywhere, when it comes to bodies of water, their fears are valid. For children ages 1-4, drowning is the most common cause of death, and second most common for ages 5-14. But there is a simple step you can take to calm your fears, keep your kiddos safe, and get their little bodies moving. Swim lessons not only reduce drowning risk by an amazing 88%, but they also have many other benefits for children of all ages!

For All Ages

Even infants are able to learn life-saving water skills. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests starting official swim lessons with babies as young as one year old. By gradually introducing your kiddo to water, it becomes an enjoyable experience, which can combat the aversiveness many toddlers feel when taking swim lessons for the first time.

What To Look For

It’s important to ensure that your children are safe with qualified, responsible adults when they’re first learning to swim. Especially for younger children, a swim lesson with a high schooler in a backyard pool is not adequate without adult supervision. Without proper training a child’s swim lesson could turn dangerous very quickly. Experts recommend looking a swim instructor who:

caucasian woman with glasses on and a whistle around her neck holding a water surfer with caucasian kid holding it. — *Look for an instructor that offers one-on-one attention.*

Has current CPR and First Aid certifications and has received training through a nationally recognized learn-to-swim curriculum.
Teaches safety habits around water, not just in it. A good instructor will spend time ensuring that your kiddos know to never go in water without an adult, not to run around pools, and to check for a lifeguard before swimming in the ocean.
Teaches self-rescue, even from a young age. Things like flipping onto your back, treading water, and keeping your head out of waves are critical skills if your child ends up in water unexpectedly at any age.
Offers one-on-one attention, lessons in and out of water, and an accessible, patient method for introducing swimming to kids who might be nervous.

While the AAP has not formally recommended infants younger than one year for swim lessons, there is new research on the bradycardic response, or “diving reflex” in infants, where babies who are less than six months old instinctively know to hold their breath and open their eyes under water, and even move their arms and legs like they’re swimming. These reflexes alone are not enough for an infant to swim, but support the idea that babies and young children are born with a primitive understanding of aquatic survival, and with proper supervision and training can quickly learn to master and enjoy swimming.

Many swim schools now offer ‘Infant Self-Rescue lessons for children 6-12 months old.. Babies are, with professional supervision, placed or even thrown into a warm pool and taught to flip onto their back, float, rest, and breathe until someone comes to rescue them. The lessons gradually increases the amount of clothing the child is wearing when put in the pool, to better support the understanding that if they accidentally fall into the water they should turn onto their back to be able to breathe. These lessons might look alarming, but this life-saving skill is invaluable.These classes should only be taught by a certified professional.

caucasian young girl wearing a green and black bathing suit, green swim cap and showing off her muscles. — *Swimming helps develop children’s bodies and provides strong muscles.*

For Developing Bodies

On top of being life saving for children, being in the water can be a fun, exciting way to exercise the whole body. Studies show that children who enjoy a physical activity, like swimming, are more likely to have a healthy, positive relationship with exercise in adolescence. In the short term, swimming has many health benefits for little ones, as well:

Strong muscles, which in turn support proper bone growth
Cardiovascular exercise that supports young lungs
Better balance, flexibility, and grasping techniques.
Better sleep habits (which is a win for everyone!)

For Developing Brains

Swimming is a unique form of exercise in that it requires you to use all of your extremities in different ways simultaneously, while you are also trying to regulate your breathing and stay balanced in the water. All of this hard work does wonders for developing brains. In fact, multiple studies show that children who swim regularly score higher on problem solving and intelligence testing and have an increase in overall efficiency in brain processes.

For children with special needs, swim lessons can be a fun, low-stress lesson in developing fine and gross motor skills, increasing attention span, and regulating the sensory system. If you think your child might benefit from these experiences, ask your Occupational Therapist or primary care physicians if swim lessons are right for your child.

Swim lessons are important for keeping your children safe, but are also a great way to exercise their growing brains and bodies. Swimming can be fun for the whole family, so get in there and start splashing!

Take a Dip: Life-Changing Benefits of Swimming for Seniors

Picture it: a glistening pool reflecting a clear blue sky, a warm, sun-soaked towel, and a glass of ice cold lemonade. Spending time by the pool is a great way to pass the hours on a summer day. It’s also one of the best ways for seniors to get exercise! Here are 4 ways swimming can improve your quality of life.

1. Increase balance, coordination, and flexibility

Swimming is an ideal exercise for preventing falls, which doctors caution can have catastrophic outcomes for seniors. Regular swimming has been linked to improved balance and coordination because it helps you create your own base of support and stability while you simultaneously coordinate your upper and lower body movement. In fact, a recent study in Australia looked at seniors over a 4 year period and determined that those who swam once or twice a week experienced 33% fewer falls than their peers. Swimming can also improve mobility and flexibility, and can help loosen stiff joints in your neck, shoulders, hips, arms, and legs.

2. Strengthen your heart and tone your muscles

Experts believe that over 80% of seniors are affected by heart disease. Swimming offers an opportunity to improve your heart health by increasing circulation and lowering blood pressure. And, because swimming is a low-impact exercise and is easy on the joints, it allows you to exercise more frequently and for longer periods of time. Additionally, swimming strengthens and tones your muscles – the density of water acts as a natural form of strength training!

3. Improve your mood (and sex drive!)

Have you ever heard of a “runner’s high”? That sense of euphoria is caused by an increase in endorphin levels, the chemicals produced in the brain that make us feel good. Swimming, like running, triggers a boost in endorphin production, resulting in a similar rush of euphoria. Similarly, swimming has been shown to increase estrogen and testosterone production, which impacts the libido. Increased libido has been linked to higher self-esteem, enhanced mood, and a greater sex drive.

4. Ease your mind

Last but certainly not least is the benefit that swimming can have on your mind! Exercise is connected with sharpened cognitive function in seniors, and most people say that they find swimming to be a relaxing, leisurely activity. Swimming with your friends and family can double the benefit!

Swimming doesn’t have to be limited to the summer – there are gyms and community centers with indoor pools, and some physical therapists offer aquatic therapy. Enjoy swimming year round and reap the benefits for your body, and your mind!

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