If swimming is beneficial for your health for many reasons, it may be even more interesting to combine it with another sport to improve performance and technique. Find out why it is recommended to practice a sport complementary to swimming and which sports are the most recommended.
Why practice a complementary sport?
Practicing a complementary sport has certain advantages for swimmers looking for performance. Indeed, practicing another sport in addition to swimming makes it possible to solicit different muscles and in a different way. Swimming being a sport that particularly works the upper body, it can be interesting to work the lower body to restore balance.. Practicing a complementary sport is also a good way to rest certain muscles in the event of injury, for example. If you suffer from shoulder tendonitis, cycling can be a plus to continue working on your endurance and breathing capacity. Finally, be aware that it can be interesting to combine swimming with another sport to vary the pleasures and avoid falling into the monotony of lifeguard training.
What sports to practice in addition to swimming?
While it is perfectly possible to practice the sport you want in addition to swimming , some are still more suitable than others for improving performance.
Cycling : this is a sport that goes perfectly with swimming since it is also a sport that is not violent for the joints. Cycling also allows you to work on your breathing, your heart rate and your endurance. It also complements swimming very well as it works the lower body.
Running: rather violent for the joints, it is however interesting to improve your breathing and strengthen your abdominal belt . Swimming particularly requires this area to keep the body straight and slide more easily in the water.
Bodybuilding: it can be practiced in a sports club or directly at the edge of the pool during the dry warm-up . The ideal is to work the muscles of the arms, shoulders and back . After a few sessions, you will find that you “draw” more water with your arms, your support will be better and you will gain in power .
Know that swimming is the complementary sport par excellence because it promotes relaxation and muscle recovery, softens the joints and helps eliminate lactic acids from your body.
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