Did you know? Less than 50% of American adults with a mobility disability are seen to engage in aerobic activity.
Aerobic activity is an essential and effective way to improve physical, emotional, and mental well-being. The good news is that there are different aerobic activities designed for people with disabilities to engage in.
Swimming is an accessible, beneficial, and fun activity. If you’re looking to build strength, improve your mental health, and improve your sense of independence, then swimming is the activity for you.
Read on to learn more about the top six benefits of swimming for people with disabilities.
1. Alleviates Pressure on Joints
Being in the water feels like being weightless. The water supports your body and greatly reduces the effects of gravity.
When you float in the water, you alleviate pain in your joints and even your muscles. This helps you stretch and strengthen parts of the body that don’t experience a full range of motion.
2. Builds Muscle Strength
Normal aerobic activity is especially difficult for people with disabilities. This is because their muscles are rigid or loose.
However, in the water, the muscles are easier to move and moving your muscles allows you to build strength. This works wonders when you’re unable to do other exercises that work on muscle strength.
3. Improves Heart Health
As we’ve mentioned, swimming is an excellent aerobic activity that strengthens your heart. As your heart becomes larger and stronger, it can pump blood and increase circulation.
Swimming with a disability allows you to reap these cardiovascular benefits without putting much stress on your body.
4. Improves Mental Health
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins and serotonin—— chemicals that improve your mood.
Regular exercise can impact everything from depression to anxiety. You’ll notice that you’re less stressed, feel more relaxed, have better memory function, sleep better, and feel energetic throughout the day.
6. Improves Social Wellbeing
One of the greatest benefits of swimming is its social aspect. By learning to swim and consistently getting into the pool, you meet other people with disabilities who enjoy similar interests. This gives you a way to connect with like-minded people and expand your social circle.
You might even consider taking up swimming more competitively, where you can be part of a team and build strong bonds.
7. Supports Independence
Because of the weightlessness of being in the water, you’ll be able to move more freely and without assistance. Not only is that freedom an important experience, but it gives you the confidence to imagine that you can be independent in many other ways. That independence, in turn, supports self-confidence, especially if it’s something that you excel at.
What to Expect in Aqua Aerobics Classes
Whether you’re already comfortable in the pool or have never tried water aerobics before, the classes at Saguaro Aquatics are suitable for any ability level. Here’s something you should know about the swimming classes
Aqua Aerobics for Adults
Level: All abilities
It’s suitable for people of all fitness abilities. Aquafit classes provide all the benefits of a great workout while being fun and engaging. You’ll gradually build up strength and stamina with this low-impact class, and you don’t even need to be able to swim, as all the exercises are done in the shallow end of the pool.
Aqua Aerobics Basics
Level: Beginners
Performing simpler movements at a lower intensity, the Aqua Aerobics Basics classes are for people just starting their fitness journey. It works for those looking to build confidence or recover from injury. The water aerobics classes for adults will keep you fit without putting pressure on your joints, making them a great low-impact option.
Deep Aqua Aerobics
Level: Confident swimmer
This deep-water Aqua Aerobics session requires a strong and confident swimmer since it takes place in the deep end of the pool and uses buoyancy aids. Similar to regular pool aerobics, this deep-water aquafit class provides a full-body workout, increases fitness, and gets your heart pumping.
The bottom line
As discussed, swimming has many benefits for people with disabilities, from muscle strengthening to improved mental health. The aerobic activity is perfect for people of any ability level. Beyond enjoyment, being in the pool provides a greater sense of independence and confidence.
Getting to the pool should be a comfortable experience, for which you might need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Find out more about mobility swimming classes and water aerobics sessions at Saguaro Aquatics.
