At Blackberry Clinic our therapists aim to get you back to enjoying all your usual activities and maybe trying some new ones with exercise programmes, rehabilitation programmes and stretches to perform. It may be that as an interim measure following injury that swimming may be suggested! Swimming can be beneficial for strengthening weakened muscles, stretching stiff joints, easing arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Rose Jenner, one of our osteopaths at Blackberry Clinic Milton Keynes, explains how to go about getting back into swimming after such a long break, or what to do if you have never really used swimming as an exercise. Take the plunge and feel the benefits!
Diving back into swimming!
With restrictions easing in the UK, it is time to dust off your swimsuit, dig out those goggles and dive back into swimming. Whilst some people may be raring to go, others can feel slightly nervous about taking the plunge after such a long time away from the water. Whether you are an avid swimmer or haven’t been in a pool since your summer holiday, here are our top tips for diving back into swimming:
Patience is a virtue
Unless you’ve been swimming laps around your bath in lockdown, you may find your swimming fitness has dropped considerably. Don’t try to go back to the same amount of time in the pool or the same number of laps, pre-lockdown. Give yourself time to ease back in to swimming with shorter sessions and less lengths. Only increase these when you feel able, be patient!
Quality over quantity
Restarting training is the perfect time to wash away any bad habits you may have developed and focus on perfecting your swimming technique. We all know that technique can suffer once we get tired and this is likely to happen a lot quicker than normal when you first venture back to the pool. Try and focus on good quality swimming rather than trying to reach your optimal number of lengths. Bad technique is more likely to cause injuries in the long run.
Consistency is key
Your first session back might be exhilarating but you may also feel slightly demoralised at your fitness level. Do not give up! Make a plan of when you are going to swim and stick with it, you will start to see results pretty quickly.
Synchronise your swimming
Need a little extra motivation to get you away from the sofa and towards the cold water? Find a training buddy to swim at the same time as you. Dipping your toe in with a friend or family member beside you can make the whole experience less daunting and can make you a little more accountable!
Be SMART
Setting Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and Time-based goals will help you have something to focus towards and give more meaning to your swimming.
Plan ahead
With restrictions still in place, there might be specific rules regarding when and how you can go swimming. Make sure you call ahead to check if changing facilities are available at your local pool and if you need to book a certain time slot to swim.
All the gear
Is your old swimsuit looking a little tired? Have you put on a few lockdown pounds? Make sure your swim gear is still comfortable and you feel confident in it. If not, make sure you get something that is going to make you feel good when you step out onto the side of the pool. Ill-fitting swim gear can be a constant distraction and googles that leak can ruin the flow of your swim.
Why bother?
At Blackberry Clinic we recommend swimming to our patients as it’s low impact exercise that doesn’t put so much stress through the joints as some land-based activities. Plus, it is suitable for all ages. Immersing yourself in water can be a great stress reliever, it releases endorphins that make you feel good and it is a workout for the whole body.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to dive back into swimming!
Rose Jenner
Osteopath
Blackberry Clinic Milton Keynes
