The Positive Effects Of Swimming On The Brain

There’s nothing quite like jumping into a pool, lake, or ocean to escape the heat in summertime or to get some exercise. Many people enjoy swimming, especially children (who can be difficult to persuade out of the water once they’re in!). However, most people don’t realize just how beneficial swimming can be, not only in terms of physical health but also happiness and even  brain health. So how does swimming benefit the brain, and how do those effects help children? Read on to learn more about the positive effects of swimming on the brain.

How is swimming good for mental health?
Swimming is remarkably good for mental health. People of all ages can benefit greatly from swimming when it comes to their overall mental wellness. Research has looked into whether these effects simply help during the swim session or if they can have lasting benefits, and findings suggest that children who swim on a regular basis can experience significantly improved mental health parameters overall.

One such study looked at 33 children between the ages of 11 and 14 who were all diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The study looked at how swimming affected the children over an eight-week period. When looking at mental health alone, the swimming program improved depression parameters in all participants, as well as reducing stress levels.

Looking at outdoor swimming specifically, another study examined 722 participants who participated in outdoor swimming on a regular basis. Those who swam outside were shown to have reduced symptoms of mental health disorders after the study was complete. 

Does swimming improve intelligence?
When looking at swimming and intelligence, research has examined if there is a correlation between the two. What studies have found is that swimming is strongly associated with various aspects of intelligence such as memory, cognitive function, and the improvement of neural communication pathways within the brain.

Scientists are still unsure why swimming benefits us in such as unique way; however, all aerobic exercises have proven to be helpful when it comes to brain health and intelligence. One study using rats investigated the effects of swimming on the brain and found that the activity helped to lower inflammation in one area of the brain known as the hippocampus. Swimming could also stop cell death and support the survival of certain neurons. This is important for intelligence because the prevention of cognitive changes that happen with aging (and bring on brain function decline) could possibly be mitigated with regular swimming sessions.

Another part of intelligence, memory, has also been improved in rats through regular swimming. One study took a group of rats and trained them to spend an hour a day for five days every week swimming. The rats then had their memories tested in a water maze. After only one week, the rats that swam each day were better able to navigate through the water maze with fewer mistakes. This solidified an improvement in both short- and long-term memory.

Considering all the aforementioned affects, it’s easy to answer the burning question, “Why is swimming considered a brain training exercise?”.

What are the benefits of swimming as a student?
While the benefits of swimming can extend to people of all ages, it can be especially beneficial for children, and the earlier they start swimming, the better. There are several benefits that can be experienced when students take time to add swimming to their schedule. These include:

• Physical health
  The health benefits of any type of regular exercise are hard to ignore. When it comes to children, getting a jumpstart on healthy habits can make all the difference in their futures. Swimming is a type of exercise that utilizes various aspects of physical fitness, improving cardiovascular, muscular, and brain health.
• Social skills
  When children are developing their social skills, swimming can be used as a tool to improve their ability to socialize with others and make lasting friendships. Learning how to swim with other children and then continuing to improve (say, on a school swim team) can build lasting social skills.
• Mental development
  As mentioned above, swimming is truly a brain training exercise. Because of this, children who swim can reap the benefits of better mental development. This is because swimming helps children develop the mind-body connection much earlier and sharpens brain function and intelligence.

While swimming may not be on everyone’s list of favorite things to do, it’s hard to ignore the many benefits it can have on brain function, cognitive health and development, and even social skills for children. If you want your child to reap the benefits, the best time to get them started with swimming is now.

 

Featured image by Jeff Dunham on Unsplash