Articles and Videos
Four Exercises to Alleviate Hip Pain
Terry (not her real name) was out for her usual weekend open water swim when her hip suddenly tightened up.
Why You Need to Buddy Up for a Sustainable Swimming Habit
It’s often said you should never swim alone, and while that’s typically intended as a safety mantra, there are other reasons that finding a partner or group to train with can help you build a more sustainable swimming habit. Here are four key ways that buddying up can improve your ability, fitness, enjoinment, and commitment to swimming.
What Muscles Are Used in a Swimming Workout?
Exercise is good for your body in many ways, but one of its biggest benefits comes from how it strengthens muscles. In fact, swimming just might be the best exercise for building strength throughout your entire body because it’s low-impact—meaning there’s less stress on your joints—while offering consistent resistance from the water.
The Skills and Drills Needed for Your Breaststroke Pullouts
Pullouts are a difference-maker. I’m sure you’ve seen a swimmer completely dominate their pullouts and beat another swimmer who was a superior breaststroker. The opposite can be true as well—great breaststrokers can lose races on inferior pullouts. Pullouts can be major advantage or disadvantage depending on your skills.
Should I Use Ice or Heat for Sore Swimming Muscles?
Here’s some of the research available on the topic, to find what works best and when.
What Are the Markings on the Bottom of the Pool For?
Competition pools have markings on the bottom and walls and in the lane lines. Most competitive swimmers learn what and where these are, but if you’ve never competed or are new to swimming, you might not know how to make best use of these markings to produce your fastest swims.
Can I Swim After a C-Section?
C-sections carry a higher risk of complications, such as infection, because they’re major surgical procedures. Loss of blood, blood clots, and injuries to the bowel, bladder, and other abdominal structures can also arise.
Use Your Head to Fix Your Body Position and Alignment
Your body position, which is affected by your head position, will determine how fast you can swim.
Busting 3 Triathlon Swim Training Myths
Many new triathletes believe that if they have a high level of fitness and endurance from another sport, that it carries over to swimming. But if you don’t have a swimming background, the experience of hopping into even a sprint triathlon swim can be quite an eye opener. Even experienced pool swimmers have had this experience and found it unsettling.
Can I Swim After Getting My Ears Pierced?
Any kind of piercing, whether the traditional earlobe kind or on a less common location on the body, can expand your world of jewelry and accessorizing fun. But they can also open a chance of infection. And swimming can increase your risk of developing infections after a piercing.
How to Catch a Wave in Open Water Swimming
There’s no feeling like catching a wave into shore and surging onto the beach.
How You Can Achieve Peak Swimming Fitness After Turning 40
Gone are the days when turning 40 meant you were “over the hill.” Now, 40 is the new 30, and for many of us, we’re just hitting our stride as we enter our fifth decade.
Which Breaststroke Pull Style Are You?
Breaststroke can be swum effectively and fast using many different styles and techniques. It’s also true that there are a tremendous number of ways to swim breaststroke poorly. Some swimmers are better breaststroke kickers than pullers, or better pullers than kickers. Some are good at pulling and kicking but have bad rhythm and timing. And there are those rare natural breaststrokers who have it all together and everything in the right place at the right time.
How To Get Back Into Swimming After Giving Birth
Here’s what to be aware of when aiming to reestablish a swimming routine after pregnancy and delivery.
What Are These Bugs in the Swimming Pool?
Here are some of the most common types of bugs you’re likely to find in the pool and unpack whether they present any health or safety risks.
How Swimmers Can Work Through Sore Muscles
If you work out regularly, you’re likely used to occasionally feeling sore afterward. It’s common, and not usually a problem. Here’s what to know about muscle soreness and when it’s time to back off.
How Can I Keep My Hair Healthy While Swimming?
The widely used sanitizing chemical chlorine is great for keeping pool water safe to swim in, but it comes with a big downside for your hair—it can be incredibly harsh.
3 Myths About Breaststroke
Breaststroke is a complicated stroke to learn. Here are three common myths about the stroke and the truths behind them.
Why Swimmer's Shoulder Might Not Be Just an Overuse Injury
Although many swimmers attribute nagging shoulder aches and pains to overuse, if an injury were solely from overuse, both shoulders would hurt, since both shoulders do the same amount of yardage in the pool.
