How Both Astronauts and Arthritis Sufferers Benefit from a Swimming Pool
It's interesting to think that one of the training tools for astronauts is a simple swimming pool, or as they call it, a Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. This underwater environment is important because it's the closest earthly approximation of weightlessness, and it helps to prepare astronauts for the challenges of performing complex tasks in an environment without the pull of gravity. Relatedly, the strain on your joints is one of the things that makes exercise difficult when you suffer from arthritis. While you don't quite need your very own Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, if you need to exercise without straining your joints, look no further than the low-impact environment of your local pool.
The Problem with Resistance Training
Resistance training is problematic if you have arthritis. The strain of free weights or the adjustable strain of exercise equipment can cause discomfort, or even pain, with the cumulative effects of this strain on your arthritic joints potentially negating the benefits of this type of exercise. Although some forms of calculated resistance training can be necessary under professional advisement, you might find that you will benefit more from swimming, in which the only resistance is the friction of your body against the water.
Low Impact, High Efficiency
Lap swimming has long been recognised as an effective overall workout, promoting cardiovascular activity while using all the major muscle groups. This directed form of swimming, propelling yourself from one end of a lap pool to another, certainly differs from merely splashing around in the water. The effects of gravity are largely neutralised as well, which is why it's an effective training activity for astronauts, as well as an efficient yet gentle form of exercise for those who suffer from arthritis.
Strokes, Speed, and Style
It can be helpful to consult with your doctor or physiotherapist before you dedicate yourself to lap swimming. There might be a small amount of trial and error as you experiment with different swimming strokes and speeds before finding the style that is the least stressful for your joints. Alternating these styles and using swimming accessories (such as a kickboard) can also be of use. You could even find it beneficial to use a swimming teacher if you're unsure about your swimming abilities beyond that aforementioned splashing around in the water.
Exercising with arthritis can almost feel counterintuitive. You want to exercise to negate your condition, but exercising can actually aggravate your condition. It could be that your own personal Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory—the local pool—is the answer.
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