The Health Benefits of Swimming

Swimming is a low-impact exercise that can help you lose weight. In today's article, we'll discuss these and other benefits that this aerobic exercise has to offer.
The Health Benefits of Swimming

Last update: 15 March, 2020

Swimming is one of the best full-body workouts out there. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what kind of shape you’re in, this exercise can help you stay in shape. It has incredible advantages for the body and mind. In today’s article, we’ll talk about the health benefits of swimming for people who do it regularly.

The positive side effects of swimming aren’t just physical. It can also be good for your mental health. Swimming improves muscle tone, facilitates weight loss, and reduces stress, among other things.

So, if you want to look great and feel great too, few exercises compare to swimming (when paired with a balanced diet and healthy habits, of course).

As if that weren’t enough, this activity is especially good for people with muscle injuries or joint and bone conditions. 

If your main goal is to lose weight, you should combine swimming with other sports such as running or cycling. However, that depends on your particular needs and physical abilities, so talk to a professional who can help you plan a successful training regimen.

The main health benefits of swimming

1. Muscle tone

Swimming is a full-body exercise that helps you develop muscle tone in a balanced way. Water offers the perfect level of resistance to improve your strength and do cardio at the same time.

Swimming can also help you build muscle massIf you know more than one stroke, don’t hesitate to alternate during your workout so you can take full advantage of the benefits of swimming.

A woman enjoying the benefits of swimming.

2. Weight loss: health benefits of swimming

Swimming is a great workout for people who want to lose weight and trim down. Luckily, you don’t have to jump into an intense workout regimen to start to get the benefits.

It’s important, however, to be consistent and stay motivated. You won’t see results right away, but if you stick to it, you’ll start to notice the difference in a few months.

3. Low-impact for your bones, joints, and muscles

Swimming is a low-impact exercise that gives you the opportunity to do cardio without stressing your bones, joints, or muscles. When you swim, you’re weightless, so there’s no impact on your joints. That makes it the ideal exercise for people who are overweight.

Unlike other exercises, such as weight lifting, for example, you don’t need much recovery time after swimming (unless you swim competitively). If you’re recovering from an injury, swimming is a great way to stay in shape and keep your body limber while you heal.

4. Reduce stress through the health benefits of swimming

Swimming also helps reduce tension and stress. No one in the world is immune to stress, and everyone needs something to help reduce it. As with any sport or physical exercise, swimming helps you reduce stress and forget your day-to-day worries.

In fact, this sport has a unique advantage, which is in direct contact with water. Water is relaxing, which helps lower physical and mental stress. It triggers the release of endorphins, which has a direct effect on relaxing your body and mind.

A guy swimming freestyle.

5. Swimming helps you sleep better

Your overall health depends on the quality and duration of your sleep because your body and mind repair and renew themselves at night. Sleeping well is crucial, and swimming can help in a big way.

Expending physical energy during the day helps you get better sleep at night, which also improves mental balance and well-being. The physical effort that you make when you swim releases hormones that lead to much better rest.

As you can see, swimming is a wonderful way to improve your overall well-being in a short amount of time. Now that you know the health benefits of swimming, it’s time to try it out for yourself. Are you ready?


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


    • Aspenes, S., Kjendlie, P. L., Hoff, J., & Helgerud, J. (2009). Combined strength and endurance training in competitive swimmers. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 8(3), 357–365.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.