Swimming is the fourth most popular sports activity in the United States. Unlike other popular styles of exercise, swimming is a way to fit cardio into your workout routine without putting stress on your bones, joints and muscles. This is a great benefit for swimmers of all ages and body types, but it’s especially beneficial for seniors and people with arthritis. It’s one of the best ways to stay active while also taking care of your body.

Even though it is considered a low-impact workout, swimming produces great results. Swimming is typically considered an aerobic exercise, but exercising in water provides good resistance. Building proper muscle strength, especially as we grow older, is essential for a healthy body and a long life. Resistance training with or without added weights and bands, improves balance, sleep and bone health.

Swimming can help people with chronic diseases. For people with arthritis, it can improve the use of affected joints. People with rheumatoid arthritis have noticed health improvements after participating in swimming over with other activities

Swimming can also improve mental health by improving mood in both men and women. Swimming can improve the health of mothers and their unborn children and has a positive effect on the mothers’ mental health. Parents of children with developmental disabilities find that recreational activities, such as swimming, improve family connections.

Just two and a half hours per week of aerobic physical activity, such as swimming, can decrease the risk of chronic illnesses which can lead to improved health for people with diabetes and heart disease. Many people report enjoying water-based exercise more than exercising on land. They can also exercise longer in water than on land without increased effort or joint or muscle pain.