Are the way you stroke with your right arm supposed to be semetrical with the way you stroke with your left arm, because I stroke in a different pattern with my left arm than with my right, I suppose that's normal. Also is swimming considered an anerobic or aerobic sport or both?
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Former Member
Intensity is what determines whether swimming is aerobic or anaerobic. Aerobic activity is activity that can be maintained for a long period of time as there isn't oxygen debt and the muscles don't accumulate excess lactic acid. Runners' World uses the "talk test" as a simplified, not scientific, explanation of aerobic vs. anaerobic running. Basically aerobics has to do with oxygen - what happens to the muscles is a result of oxygen intake and use of the oxygen by working muscles. Assuming one is in reasonably good shape, aerobic activity can be sustained for a long period of time, while anaerobic activity cannot.
I found something on the web from Runners' World, which is another simplified, not scientific, explanation of aerobics and anaerobics.
aerobic
Used to refer to running or other exercise at an intensity that's sufficiently easy for your respiratory and cardiovascular systems to deliver all or most of the oxygen required by your muscles, and slow enough that lactic acid doesn't appreciably build up in your muscles. Generally, you can sustain a slow aerobic pace for long periods of time, provided you have the endurance to go long distances.
anaerobic
Used to refer to running or other exercise at an intensity that makes it impossible for your respiratory and cardiovascular systems to deliver all or most of the oxygen required by your muscles, and fast enough that lactic acid begins to build up in your muscles, thus producing a tired, heavy feeling. The pace associated with anaerobic running cannot be sustained very long.
Intensity is what determines whether swimming is aerobic or anaerobic. Aerobic activity is activity that can be maintained for a long period of time as there isn't oxygen debt and the muscles don't accumulate excess lactic acid. Runners' World uses the "talk test" as a simplified, not scientific, explanation of aerobic vs. anaerobic running. Basically aerobics has to do with oxygen - what happens to the muscles is a result of oxygen intake and use of the oxygen by working muscles. Assuming one is in reasonably good shape, aerobic activity can be sustained for a long period of time, while anaerobic activity cannot.
I found something on the web from Runners' World, which is another simplified, not scientific, explanation of aerobics and anaerobics.
aerobic
Used to refer to running or other exercise at an intensity that's sufficiently easy for your respiratory and cardiovascular systems to deliver all or most of the oxygen required by your muscles, and slow enough that lactic acid doesn't appreciably build up in your muscles. Generally, you can sustain a slow aerobic pace for long periods of time, provided you have the endurance to go long distances.
anaerobic
Used to refer to running or other exercise at an intensity that makes it impossible for your respiratory and cardiovascular systems to deliver all or most of the oxygen required by your muscles, and fast enough that lactic acid begins to build up in your muscles, thus producing a tired, heavy feeling. The pace associated with anaerobic running cannot be sustained very long.
