IS SWIMMING THE PERFECT WORKOUT? (MUSCLES, JOINTS, AND CALORIES)

We've all been told that swimming is the "master of all exercises." But is it really true?

The common claims are that swimming works every major muscle group, creates zero impact on your joints, and burns as many calories as running.

Let's put these claims to the test. This article will break down the science of muscles, joints, and calories to see if swimming truly deserves the title of the ultimate workout.

Dive Into: The Science of Swimming Fitness

• Round 1: Joint Impact and Injury Prevention
• Round 2: Muscle Engagement (🎥 Watch Video)
• Round 3: The Calorie Burn Battle (Swimming vs. Running)
• The Verdict
• Frequently Asked Questions

Round 1: Joint Impact and Injury Prevention

This one is a no-brainer. When it comes to kindness to your body, swimming wins hands down.

Unlike running, which involves the constant, high-impact pounding of your feet on the pavement, swimming is a low-impact sport. The buoyancy of the water supports your weight, removing the stress of gravity from your joints. This makes it the perfect exercise for rehabilitation, longevity, and staying fit without the wear and tear.

Round 2: Muscle Engagement

Now, let's look at the claim that swimming works "all major muscle groups." Is it true?

The short answer is yes. To help visualize this, I found a video simulation created by Dr. Nakashima from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. It provides a fascinating insight into exactly which muscles fire during each of the four strokes.

Watch below to see how swimming engages the entire body in a way few other sports can.

🎥 Watch: Muscle Activation Analysis

Round 3: The Calorie Burn Battle (Swimming vs. Running)

This is where it gets tricky. Does swimming burn as many calories as running?

The Case for Swimming: A swimmer moves through water, which is usually much cooler than body temperature. Your body burns calories just to stay warm, even if you are sitting still. Plus, water is far denser than air, meaning it is much tougher to move through.

The Case for Running: However, running engages the quadriceps and glutes, the largest and most powerful muscle groups in the body, constantly and intensely. Because of this massive muscle activation working against gravity, you will generally burn calories quicker while running than swimming at a moderate pace.

The Reality: To burn the same total amount of calories as a runner, a swimmer usually needs to swim for a longer duration.

Note: Sports like water polo are the exception. The constant treading water uses the leg muscles intensely, putting the calorie burn on par with running.

The Verdict

So, is swimming the master of all exercises?

If you are looking for a full-body workout that builds strength in every muscle group while saving your joints from injury, yes, it is the king.

However, if your only goal is to burn the maximum number of calories in the shortest amount of time, running might have the slight edge, but at a much higher cost to your knees!