.June 2002
Now that it's
FINALLY warming up and pools are opening...let's go swimming!
Swimming is a
wonderful low impact activity for all ages. For people with
joint problems who can't do to too much exercise on land due to pain,
swimming offers a solution to this. When you are in water that's
waist deep, you are only 50% of your weight (a 150lb person only
weighs 75lbs.). When you are in water up to your neck, you are
only 10% of your weight, so a 150lb. person only weighs 15lbs.!
Very easy on sore joints. The water pressure also helps to
reduce swelling.
Swimming is also a
wonderful calorie burner. The following is a chart of how many calories
you burn doing various activities in the water. I calculated it
for various weights to accommodate children and adults. It's
amazing how children who have a bit of belly loose it over the
summer. (Growing taller also helps to stretch this out.)
