It can be difficult to stay in shape while battling injuries and/or chronic pain. If you’re looking to pair exercises with your physiotherapy regimen, swimming and physiotherapy are a winning combination. 

Swimming is a great strength training alternative that offers resistance and cardio to your workout. Not only does submersion supports your joints and muscles, its buoyancy creates a low impact environment. Regardless of your depth, exercises in the water can be both physically and emotionally therapeutic! 

Low Impact Exercise 

Mixing up your land training with some aqua adventure actually gives your body a break…. without giving your fitness and rehab a break! 

Think about every time you run and the force of your foot hits the ground, shockwaves are sent up through your ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, back and neck. Now, what about biking? Lifting weights? The truth is that so many of the things we do to keep our body in the best shape, can sometimes work against us. 

If you introduce swimming and physiotherapy or other aquatic activities into your fitness routine, you actually accomplish the same (if not more) strength from the workout. This is thanks to the resistance in the water. It also gives your joints a much deserved break from their day to day abuse of just living!  It’s so widely applicable that with the advice of your physio, you may be able to help better treat knee pain, back pain, neck pain and maybe even your brain pain! 

Let Your Stress Float Away

Swimming and physiotherapy is not only great for your body, but also kind to your mind. Water has been used in various forms for thousands of years as a form of therapy. Whether it’s in the form of a hot spring or the soothing sounds of waves crashing to the shore, there is an inherent comfort for those of us who love the water. 

Finding your rhythm in the water can be great for stress management – lots of chronic pain, muscle spasms originate from stress. Swimming is a calming form of exercise that helps to relieve the mind, and by association, the body!

Fun for Everyone

You are never too old, or too young, to enjoy the water – given that we’re all using appropriate water safety. Sometimes the things you love to do for exercise, don’t love you back. Running might start triggering your old knee injury, or maybe biking isn’t doing anything good for your back. With the emphasis on its low impact nature, the water is a sustainable way for most of us to enjoy maintaining our fitness. 

Safety First

Like anything else, swimming presents its own risks, so remember to stretch after your swim. If you are battling an injury or chronic pain and you think this could help you, always consult your physiotherapist first!