Some questions about swimming's contribution to fitness
Former Member
Hi,
I am a new member here. Due to a serious knee injury (4 time dislocation), I am interested in taking up swimming. It is especially appealing as it is a low impact sport and involves all parts of the body.
How good is swimming for the heart? I know it forces my heart to work, but is it good to keep it in shape?
Is swimming good for strengthening a knee?
Lastly, swimming is the only sport/exercise I do. As a result, I assume I would have to do quite a lot of swimming to make up for the lack of other exercise. How many hours a week would I have to put in (assuming I swim constant lengths with some rest in between - or as far as I can, but not just standing in the pool).
Sorry for all the questions on my first post
Thanks
Parents
Former Member
I think swimming can be as good for your heart as anything except perhaps cross country skiing and endurance (elite) cycling. But it could also probably be similar to walking. It depends on your level of effort.
If you putz around on a kickboard with fins it may do little for you. If you swim intervals and make yourself breathe hard swimming will definitely improve your fitness.
Runners and cyclists often use heart rate monitors to gauge their effort. But swimmers don't because the chest strap and transmitters just don't work so well in the pool.
But if your heart rate is 150 in swimming - I'm pretty confident your cardiovascular benefit is the same as if your were running at 150 beats/min. I read in a Swimming magazine article that swimming tends to produce slightly lower heart rates than running or cycling for equivalent perceived effort. That is due to the constant cooling effect of water.
I think swimming can be as good for your heart as anything except perhaps cross country skiing and endurance (elite) cycling. But it could also probably be similar to walking. It depends on your level of effort.
If you putz around on a kickboard with fins it may do little for you. If you swim intervals and make yourself breathe hard swimming will definitely improve your fitness.
Runners and cyclists often use heart rate monitors to gauge their effort. But swimmers don't because the chest strap and transmitters just don't work so well in the pool.
But if your heart rate is 150 in swimming - I'm pretty confident your cardiovascular benefit is the same as if your were running at 150 beats/min. I read in a Swimming magazine article that swimming tends to produce slightly lower heart rates than running or cycling for equivalent perceived effort. That is due to the constant cooling effect of water.
