Has swimming helped improve your posture and spine?
Former Member
I think it's obvious that regular swimming should help improve posture, especially the spine. I feel it even makes us walk better. What are your experiences? I was a little surprised to have seen quite a few swimmers (mostly women in their 50's-60's) with hunchbacks where I swim. They go swimming almost every day, but the curved spines are very visible when they do freestyle. Was it that they took up swimming after having already developed spine problems? Otherwise, if they had been swimming most of their lives, shouldn't they have a great physique?
Parents
Former Member
In regards to the original question, I *do* believe that swimming was beneficial to my back.
I began swimming in fifth grade, quite poorly at first, as I wouldn't put my face in the water, but wanted to be on the swim team anyways, so I began with elementary back, got some coaching, and learned over the course of the next two years to do all of the competitive racing strokes.
Also in fifth grade, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, with an S-curve in my spine, and the threat of surgery. The curves were both of a degree that were borderline on surgery, but the doctors held off for a year to see how they would look after that time. My sister was also diagnosed with scoliosis as well, not quite as much curve, but a definite curve that needed to be monitored.
She began swimming when I did, and within that year, both she and I lost much of our scoliosis curves, mine was completely gone by two years from the original x-ray, hers was gone in one year.
So yes, I do think did help, but as far as osteoporosis, or other back conditions? I don't know. I know that my sister and I did a lot of growing in those years, and it could've been more than the swimming, but either way I'm glad it worked out as well as it did.
Gloria
In regards to the original question, I *do* believe that swimming was beneficial to my back.
I began swimming in fifth grade, quite poorly at first, as I wouldn't put my face in the water, but wanted to be on the swim team anyways, so I began with elementary back, got some coaching, and learned over the course of the next two years to do all of the competitive racing strokes.
Also in fifth grade, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, with an S-curve in my spine, and the threat of surgery. The curves were both of a degree that were borderline on surgery, but the doctors held off for a year to see how they would look after that time. My sister was also diagnosed with scoliosis as well, not quite as much curve, but a definite curve that needed to be monitored.
She began swimming when I did, and within that year, both she and I lost much of our scoliosis curves, mine was completely gone by two years from the original x-ray, hers was gone in one year.
So yes, I do think did help, but as far as osteoporosis, or other back conditions? I don't know. I know that my sister and I did a lot of growing in those years, and it could've been more than the swimming, but either way I'm glad it worked out as well as it did.
Gloria
