Splish Splash this Summer!

"Seventy-five percent of our planet is water — can you swim?"  ~Author Unknown

As the dog-days of summer are fast approaching, it becomes easier to say "no" to outdoor exercise and "yes" to the air-conditioned movie theater. Swimming is a great option to stay in shape and to stay cool, especially during the summer.

Swimming is a great fitness choice for just about everyone, especially those who have physical limitations or who find other forms of exercise painful. "It is a good, whole-body exercise that has low impact for people with arthritis, musculoskeletal, or weight limitations," says Robert A. Robergs, director of the exercise physiology laboratories at The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Water's buoyancy allows everyone to exercise no matter what their fitness level is. Water cushions stiff joints that could be injured by the impact of land-based exercises. When you are immersed to the waist, your body bears just 50% of its weight; immersed to the chest, it's 25%-35%; and to the neck, 10%.

Swimming is a great form of exercise for people suffering with arthritis, other disabilities and those recovering from injury. It is an activity that uses all muscle groups including: shoulders, back, abdominals, and the large leg muscles. Swimming is a benefit for both the cardiovascular system and for strengthening.

Happy Swimming!

Christine M. Polidoro, PT

If you have any questions regarding swimming, or any other summertime exercise, please contact MSI Physical Therapy at 908-245-5566 or 973-635-2800.