Swimming for Health

Claudia would start to feel tension in her shoulders whenever her granddaughter, Laura, asked her to go to the park. Her body instinctively tensed and stressed as she prepared for the painful walk. Claudia had given up on trying to hide her limp months ago, but she never wanted it to keep her from being the best grandma she could be.

Slow, but sure, the arthritis had locked in just how much, and how far, she could move her knees and hips. She had grown up in the South Bay, and was used to the ocean, but she never considered herself much of a “swimmer.” Yet that was about to change.

Her doctor had recommended she practice walking or wading through a pool, and if she felt comfortable, to practice some light swimming or yoga in the water. She started with the senior hour in Manhattan Beach’s Begg Pool. There was a small lap pool with times and classes for seniors right next to Pollywog Park. She always dreaded the first shock of cold water on her skin. As she dipped in, however, the water supported her weight. She could feel some of the pain disappear as she floated there in the mornings.

The difference wasn’t miraculous, but it was noticeable. She could kick and move around and the pain was barely noticeable. She worried about getting back out of the pool, but it actually wasn’t so bad. The bloodflow from swimming around for a short while had loosened up her joints.

It turns out, this is a common misconception in old age—that you can no longer exercise or that your bones won’t support aerobics.

A study from the journal of Rheumatology found that patients with osteoarthritis who practiced swimming or cycling for just 45 minutes a day experienced:

- Less Joint Pain

- Less Stiffness

- More Flexibility

- More Strength

Aerobic exercise is critical, but most of us avoid it because we’re creature of habit. If we keep potato chips around the house, we’re likely to eat those chips when we’re hungry. If we keep apples on our desk as we work, we’re likely to snack on healthy apples instead. If you keep a tennis racket by your door, you’re more likely to feel like playing tennis on your day off. But most of us don’t have a swimming pool. We prime ourselves by setting up our environment the right way.

That is one of the reasons many seniors are moving out of their larger, suburban homes into an easier-to-maintain senior home, such as the New Horizons in Torrance and Leisure World in Seal Beach. Homes in these communities cost a fraction of a typical house, and they come with lots of activities, such as golf, swimming, yoga, and more to keep your mind and body active in your golden years.

Looking for a home with a pool or a retirement community in your price range? Call me directly at 310-991-3946 and we can walk through the options together.