Do any of you go swimming for excersise

PollySid

I am thinking of joining a fitness club that has a swimming pool at a hotel up the road from me.
Have any of you had any success in swimming helping to strengthen your joints and making you more mobile?
It is quite expensive at £40 a month, but I could go during the daytime any days for that. Not sure about the fitness part of it being any good for me to use, but I do think swimming may be an excercise that I could do and build up gradually.
I may ask my Physio if she could reccomend any excercises I could actually do in the pool.

mouseymousey

I used to go to my local pool, its one of the things I would love to do again (I had a bad flare up and that stopped it for a while). I went to the council pool they had a discount for BB holders, and that coverd free classes in Aquafit (I loved it). I only went for 10 - 15 mins & I swim with a float but it made me feel so much better. Physio recommended it and said just walking in the water was good. Hope you go and enjoy it. (May be worth just checking what is on offer? £40 doesn't sound bad, but the council was £2 a session).

kellerman

Hi,
I go swimming twice a week. It can do no harm although I am aware it is not a weight bearing excersise I enjoy it.
I go to the council one. I would have a word with your physio who might be able to help with ideas of things that may help...but go for it.May

stickywicket

I've always been told that swimming is the best possible exercise for arthritics as the water supports your joints while you take them through a good range of movement. Hence the value of hydrotherapy. I imagine you have to be careful at first not to get carried away as you'll probably find you can do things you can't do out of water but not feel muscles or joints protesting until later or next day. Build up slowly and I hope it really helps. (I'm sure AC mentions it in one of their publications.)

cakegirl

This is something I would love to try and fit in at some point this year. At the moment as I'm so sore, dressing and undressing is a battle and I just haven't the energy for it.

Go gently, even just moving around in the water helps loosen things up a bit. For now I'm sticking to my warm baths :sad:

sulkycat

I miss swimming more than I can put into words.

At the moment the thought of getting dressed all over again is just too much, both in terms of pain and tiredness.
I stopped my gym / pool membership and won't be renewing it but plan eventuallt to use the local pool (they have quiet disabled sessions). Definitely worth looking in to although I completely appreciate that private pools are usually much nicer.

My physio stressed that when I feel up to the pool not to expect to be able to swim straight away because of knee issues, but to settle for gentle walking and just enjoying being in the water to begin with.

Enjoy!

dachshund

Hi Pollysid.
i go to our local hydrotherapy pool i've been going for 16 years. i cannot swim i just do exersizes in the warm water.
you can only see how you get on good luck.
joan xx

frogmorton

Yes Polly

i do i try to go 2/3 times a week health and time permitting of course.

It really really helps me l love being in the water, but have overdone it in the past because it is so lovely so take care as first.

Do let us know how you get on.

Love

Toni xx

Colin1

Hi Polly
Aqua aerobics is the thing. If you talk to your GP there is a national scheme called activity for life. Its referal from your GP or phiseo only. Cost its free for 12 weeks and if you want to stay after that its £36 for 3 months. I have done the 12 weeks but developed a lung problem however its great you do all sorts of things and you can do them at your own pace. Tai Chi and baths are really good. You can go along to your local Gym and just have a look. I was a bit embaressed to go but once i got there it was people of all ages and sizes. Go on take the plunge you never no, just dip your toe in it will make a new person of you. I also found it was good for giving you something to look forward to. its seems to mostly women and can be a social outlet as well as getting fit.
Take care
Colin

cloud9

A lot of areas do what's called a "G.P. Referral Scheme". I'm on one here and it's fab. I pay £7.50 for 12 weeks course. I get a personal adviser to help me choose exercises that are appropriate for my health needs and all the classes, (inc swimming) that are covered by the scheme are less than half price. I write my own programme and see my adviser whenever I need help or need to change things. I know that every area varies in cost etc. but it's worth asking your G.P. Good luck. x

valval

i find my local pool to cool the ladies sesions late evening and i am sure they turn the water heater off early love to swim when abroad and it nice and warm val

Airwave!

For:-
1. I enjoy it.
2. Feel good factor.

Against:-
1. I always overdo it.
2. I can't swim fast enough for most pools and hold people up if its lane swimming.
3. Cost, was doing 240miles a month just for swimming. + pool costs etc etc.
4. Need more painkillers, end up taking before I go as well as afterwards.
5. Pools are too busy.
6. Always end up with a lady getting in front of me and insisting on walking up and down, we all pay the same I suppose, but it is hard work to swim around them.
7. Seas too cold most of the year, local pool isn't much better.

GraceB

I was going to suggest the "Fitness on Prescription" approach - that's what it's called here in Kent. I believe you have to get it through your GP and it entitles you to so many sessions for a set length of time.
Does your physio department at your local hospital have a hydrotherapy pool that you could have some sessions in?
I try to swim but have had a knee replacement so therefore am not allowed to do breast stroke. However, if I do front crawl that hurts my opposite ankle which was operated on June 2011 so I can't win at the moment.
Yes I agree the pool has to be warm. Arthritic joints and cold water in pools just do not mix. The pool in the gym that I use (well the two machines I'm still allowed to use that is!) tends to be too cold for me which is a bit of a pain.
I hope you get something sorted out though.
Take care,
Grace

tillytop

I have just rediscovered swimming after many years, following a course of hydrotherapy at the hospital and I LOVE IT! It makes me feel better both physically and mentally and I really miss it if I don't go. The physio at the hospital said to me how good it is for the joints because you can move more easily in the water and the working against the resistance of the water can help to strengthen your muscles without putting them under the kind of strain you would get exercising out of the water. Do ask your physio for ideas for exercises to do in the pool - I was given some to do, so my pool sessions are a mixture of actually swimming and range of movement exercises. I am lucky to have an unusually warm pool locally, with easy "walk in" access which makes it more pleasurable so, if you have a choice of pools locally, it might be worth investigating which would be easiest for you. And council run pools tend to be cheaper to use I reckon, without having to commit to membership. It might also be worth finding out if your hospital has use of a hydrotherapy pool and, if so, if you could go for a few sessions there with a physio to learn what you can do exercise wise.

Good luck!

Tillyxxx