Swimming is tied to memories of childhood and hot summer days, splashing in pools and racing against friends. Yet swimming is a great exercise for adults of any age, even those who have been away from it for many years. It also is easy on your joints because they don't have to fight gravity. Because swimming does little for your bone density, cross train twice a week with a weight-bearing activity such as walking or cycling. To counter the stress the shoulder rotator cuff muscles are subjected to and to balance chest muscles overdeveloped by swimming, use weights to work the upper back.
Good swimmers are extremely flexible, especially in the shoulders.
Stretch for 5 minutes before and after a workout. Four sample stretches are on this page. Some swimmers also do yoga to increase flexibility. Any copying, redistribution or retransmition of the content of this service without the express writen consent of the Bradenton Herald is expressly prohibited.