Health
information about swimming
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Last updated: July 20, 2009
FEATURE ARTICLE:
DISCLAIMER: Central Dynamics, Inc.
(Manufacturers of the River pool described in this
web site) cannot support
or deny any of the claims introduced in the
following article and does not specifically support
or is responsible for any of the links provided
below. For more information on specific
advantages of swimming and/or water exercises,
please contact your physician or medical
association.
Study Reveals that Swimming Can Cut in half Men's Risk
of Dying
Research shows swimming may be the
prescription for longevity REUTERS,
Feb. 2, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb.
2, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study shows that
swimming cuts men's risk of dying by about 50%
compared to runners, walkers and sedentary peers.
The University of South Carolina study led
by Dr. Steven Blair evaluated comprehensive physical
exams and behavioral surveys from thousands of
people who were enrolled in the Aerobics Center
Longitudinal Study (ACLS) over the last 32 years.
The results were presented at the 2008 World Aquatic
Health(TM) Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado,
and have been published in the International Journal
of Aquatic Research and Education.
"Swimmers
had the lowest death rate," explains Blair. He adds
that the study takes into account age, body mass
index, smoking status, alcohol intake, hypertension,
other medical factors and family history. "This is
the first report that examined mortality rates among
swimmers in comparison with other types of physical
activity and sedentary lifestyle. We conclude that
men who swim for exercise have better survival rates
than their sedentary peers," he summarizes.
The ACLS includes extensive
medical and physical activity data on more than
40,000 men, age 20-90 years. "These lower rates in
swimmers compared with walkers and sedentary men
might well be expected," comments Dr. Blair, "but it
is surprising that we also observed lower mortality
in swimmers than in runners," he adds. "Therefore,
swimming appears to be a healthful alternative to
other types of physical activity." The study
population was limited to white, well-educated,
middle- to upper-class men. While this limits the
generalizability of the study, it should not affect
the study's internal validity, advises Blair. He
explains that, "there is no compelling reason to
assume that the benefits of swimming would be
different for women or for men in other
socioeconomic groups. In an earlier study in this
same population we found that both women and men had
similar benefits from swimming in terms of fitness
and other health indicators."
Dr. Blair
also found that regular swimmers had a higher
cardiorespiratory fitness than walkers and sedentary
people. He concludes that, "Swimming provides a
healthful alternative to traditional modes of
exercise for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and
health for the general population, as well as for
patients suffering from chronic diseases. Swimming
may be a good alternative exercise for individuals
who cannot participate in running or other forms of
physical activity." Future research will compare
injury information between swimming and other forms
of physical activity.
Founded in
1965, National Swimming Pool Foundation(R) (NSPF(R)),
which helped fund this research, is a non-profit
organization dedicated to improving public health
worldwide by encouraging healthier living through
aquatic education and research. NSPF is the leading
educator of aquatic facility operators and the chief
philanthropic research sponsor in the aquatics
field. For additional information, visit
www.nspf.org.
For more
information about the Swimming Longitudinal Study or
to schedule an interview with Dr. Steven Blair,
P.E.D. or Thomas M. Lachocki, Ph.D., CEO of the NSPF,
please contact Laurie Batter of BatterUp!
Productions, batterup@batterupproductions.com or
760-438-9304.
Stay healthy!
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