Spring has officially sprung and its definitely time for us to get up and active! As the warmer months close in and the local pools begin to open, we’re going to give you the low down on why swimming is the perfect option for anyone, of any age these warmer months.
Resistance training
Oh yeah! Water is denser than air, and as a result our body has to use extra muscle power to move through it. This counts for our seasoned pros, all the way through to our aqua aerobics and those that just like to wade around. As we know, resistance training improves the quality of our muscles. Swimming means that no matter your medical issue or injury, it’s the perfect opportunity to get back into building or simply maintaining your body.
Cardio, not hardio
Cardio training (or exercises that use cardiorespiratory endurance) are all about getting your blood pumping, making your heart stronger and using the air we breathe as energy for our muscles. The fantastic thing about swimming is that no matter your fitness level, your speed is determined by how fast you can go at the time – sprinting is very rarely part of it, and the terrain stays the same. As your technique improves, and cardiorespiratory endurance increases, you’ll be able to go faster for longer periods of time.
Bone density
This refers to how tightly packed your bones are with minerals, it’s a case of the more, the better. This is often an issue as women age, and become susceptible to conditions like osteoporosis. The more active our bodies are, the better we can prevent degeneration of our bones and subsequent health issues. Having a high bone density is essential for anyone of any age, and can be fantastic to maintain overall health during on and off seasons.
Your joints will love you for it
Not only is swimming a low impact option that still builds strength, it also improves flexibility and encourages your body to move in ways it may not have the opportunity to on land. The thick fibrous materials keeping your bones together (known as ligaments) are tough, and even tougher to heal if you manage to do some damage. The better the condition of your joints, the less likely it is you’ll be injured, and if you are, the quicker you will heal.
The basic idea? Swimming is the perfect option for anyone of any age. It can act as an extra training session, an option for pre or post season fitness or even an enjoyable way to spend an hour on a sunny afternoon. Regardless of the reasons you choose swimming, your body will thank you for it.
The team at Progressive Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy are experienced in a range of areas including rehabilitation after exercise and injury management. Contact the practice today on (02) 4721 7798, email info@progressiverehab.com.au or book your next appointment online here.
At Progressive Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Penrith, we are able to assess, treat, educate and manage all musculoskeletal injuries. We focus on hands-on treatment, exercise prescription and self management techniques tailored to your specific needs. We utilise evidence based treatments to maximise your outcomes.
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Elin, is an alumni of St. Edward’s University and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, furthered her academic journey by attaining a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Macquarie University in 2022.
Her passion for sports, particularly football (soccer), is evident in both her academic pursuits and personal endeavors. Specialising in the comprehensive well-being of athletes, Elin focuses on restoring them to peak performance while actively preventing future injuries.
Elin’s professional expertise is centered on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with a specific emphasis on addressing and preventing knee injuries. Her approach integrates expert treatment with a commitment to educating and empowering patients, fostering their active involvement in enhancing their health and overall quality of life.
As an active participant in NPL football with SD Raiders, Elin brings firsthand experience and a profound understanding of the sport’s demands. Beyond the field, she extends her influence by contributing sports coverage over the weekends.
Christopher (Chris) Han graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, and then completed the Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Macquarie University in 2018. Chris is currently undertaking his PhD at the University of Sydney and Institute for Musculoskeletal Health in the field of low back pain and is due to complete this in early 2024.
Chris is currently an assistant Physiotherapist for the NRL Referees. Chris has previous experience as the head Physiotherapist at Panthers Premier League Netball and a number of elite sporting athletes in the private setting.
Through Chris’ experiences, he has a particular interest in all areas of the body and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports, vestibular rehabilitation, and Men’s Health (pre and post prostate surgery).
Suzanne graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Science (Sports and Exercise Science) in 2015. She then went on to continue her studies at Macquarie University graduating from the Doctor of Physiotherapy post-graduate degree in June 2019.
Since graduating, Suzanne has worked in the local Penrith area in both private practice and Sports Physiotherapy. Suzanne has worked with sporting teams including Penrith District Netball Association, Mt Druitt Rangers (NPL), Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club, and local dance and cheer schools.
Suzanne has a particular interest in working with artistic athletes including cheerleaders and dancers. She has a professional background in both cheer and dance and has previously worked as both a cheer coach and dance teacher. Suzanne’s previous experiences are an invaluable resource to her as a physiotherapist, as she has a thorough understanding of the level of physical fitness and skill acquisition that these athletes must have in order to be successful on stage and in competition.
Suzanne’s other areas of clinical interest reside in lower limb musculoskeletal injuries, spinal pathologies and women’s health.
Nathanial graduated as a physiotherapist in 2012 which saw him work in private practice and hospital settings gaining experience in all areas of physiotherapy including hand therapy, splinting/casting, pre/post-operative care, Men’s Health and general musculoskeletal, occupational and sports physiotherapy. Since then he has gone on to complete further studies in physiotherapy enabling him to be the only dual titled Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist in Penrith.
Nathanial has a strong background in sports physiotherapy achieving accreditation with NSWIS as a service provider and working with many elite sports teams.
Nathanial has a particular interest in working with elite athletes, complex cases and in particular assessment and management of knee, hip and shoulder pain.
Andrea graduated from the Australian Catholic University completing her Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science in 2018 and Master’s of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2020. After graduating she attained accreditation with ESSA as an Exercise Physiologist.
During her studies she gained clinical experience in both hospital and private practice settings, in cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.
Since working at Progressive, Andrea has a specialist interest in treating musculoskeletal injuries, helping people in the mid-late stage of rehab to get them to return to sport or work. As well as helping people manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes.