A lifeguard course is a comprehensive training program that covers important skills and knowledge needed to become a professional lifeguard, including water rescue techniques, CPR and first aid, and proper use of equipment, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the safety of swimmers and preventing drowning incidents.
Swimming and lifeguard is the third most popular sports activity in Denmark and a good way to get regular cardio activity. Just two and a half hours a week of cardio activity, such as swimming and lifeguard, cycling or running, can reduce the risk of chronic and lifestyle diseases.
It can also lead to improved health for people with diabetes and heart disease. Here, swimmers have around 50% less risk of dying compared to inactive people. Some people find that they enjoy water-based exercise more than exercising on land. They can also train longer in water than on land without increased exertion or having joint or muscle pain.
Arthritis
Water-based exercise can help people with arthritis improve the use of their arthritis without worsening symptoms.
A lifeguard course is designed to equip individuals with the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively identify and respond to water-related emergencies, as well as provide ongoing surveillance of aquatic environments and minimize potential risks, while promoting water safety and preventing drowning incidents.
People with rheumatoid arthritis have shown more health improvements after participating in warm water exercise than with other activities. Water-based exercise can also improve the use of the affected joints, as well as reduce pain from osteoarthritis.
Mental health
Swimming and lifeguard can improve mood in both men and women. For some people, swimming can reduce anxiety and exercise therapy in warm water can reduce depression and improve mood.
Water-based exercise can improve the health of pregnant women and has a positive effect on the pregnant woman’s mental health. Parents of children with developmental disabilities find that recreational activities, such as swimming, improve family connections.
Older adults
Water-based exercise can benefit older adults by improving their quality of life and reducing disability. It may also improve or help maintain bone health in menopausal women.
Water-based exercise can benefit everyone
Exercising in water offers many physical and mental health benefits and is a good choice for anyone who wants to be more active. When you are in the water, remember that it is good style to keep to the right in the pool.
Why swimming is considered cardio
This rivalry of swimming and lifeguard running has been around for a long time. In fact, it’s two-thirds of what inspired the very first triathlon. Triathlon began as a competition between a swimmer, a cyclist and a runner who wanted to see who was the most fit / in the best shape.
Swimming and lifeguard running do different things to your body, but they both get your cardio system in shape. Both create healthy changes in the heart, although they do so slightly differently.
In athletes who do cardio, the left ventricle (heart chamber) often gets bigger and stronger so it can better handle pumping more blood quickly throughout the body in response to what you ask it to do.
Research published in Frontiers in Physiology looked at the hearts of elite runners and swimmers and found that both had stronger, larger left ventricles, but the runners’ were even larger than the swimmers, probably because the runners’ circulation has to work against gravity.
Lying horizontally places lower demands on the heart when swimming and lifeguard, so it doesn’t have to change as much. But the research did not find that one type of athlete’s heart was healthier than the other. So the question “Swimming or running, which provides better fitness?” is still undecided.
What are the benefits of Lifeguard and swimming?
One of the biggest benefits of swimming is that it’s easier on your joints. This is especially important if you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other conditions that cause joint pain. A 2016 study found that swimming and lifeguard, as an exercise intervention, resulted in a reduction in stiffness and joint pain.
It is a gentler way to train if you are recovering from an injury. Swimming is therefore a popular choice for people recovering from injuries, especially lower body injuries.
The buoyancy of the water provides more support for your muscles and joints compared to training on land. This allows you to train harder and impact your body less than you would on land.
Swimming also offers many different ways to burn calories. You can switch between different swimming and lifeguard styles, e.g. breast or crawl. As well as adding resistance with a water belt or wrist and ankle weights or doing a full body workout in the pool.
Swimming requires you to use many muscles in your body, making it an excellent full body workout. Running, while great for your lower body, doesn’t work the muscles in your upper back, chest, arms or shoulders to the same degree that swimming does.
Running is a weight-bearing exercise. It allows you to increase your bone density through the weight-bearing exercise. Swimming and lifeguard does not provide this.
Weight-bearing exercises like jogging, walking, and hiking are the best bone-building activities because they require you to work against gravity.
Getting started is easy. Unlike swimming, which requires a pool, running only requires a good pair of shoes and access to the outdoors or a treadmill.
Running outdoors can also boost your vitamin D levels. Just remember to wear sunscreen and avoid running when the sun’s rays are strongest.
Other facts about swimming versus running
Swimming and lifeguard running require different things from your body. Good runners tend to have stiff ankles, while good swimmers tend to have flexible ankles.
A relatively new sport called Swim Run has emerged that combines both disciplines – you generally swim to one point, get out and run to another, then swim to another and so on. Some coaches call the sport the great equalizer, as neither swimmers nor runners maintain an advantage throughout.
Swimming or running? Which one is right for you?
Both swimming and lifeguard running are good cardio exercises, so it’s up to your personal preference, health conditions and lifestyle what you like best.
Consider these questions when trying to decide what type of exercise is right for you.
Do you have joint pain? If you have arthritis or other types of joint pain, you can choose swimming instead of running. Swimming puts less stress on your joints, making it a gentler form of exercise and less likely to aggravate joint problems.
Do you want to strengthen your upper body?
If strengthening and toning your upper body is a priority, swimming is probably a better option. That’s because swimming and lifeguard offers a full-body workout that targets most of your major muscle groups.
Want to improve your bone health?
If you’re trying to do more exercise to help prevent bone loss, running may be the better choice.
Do you have access to a pool? If access to a pool is an issue, opt for running, which can be done almost anywhere. Just make sure you run in areas that are safe and away from heavy traffic.
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Do you have a lower body injury? If you have a knee, ankle, hip or back injury, swimming and lifeguard may be a safer option because there is less impact on your joints. See these strengthening exercises for knees and hips .
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Do you have a shoulder injury? If you have a shoulder injury, swimming with a repetitive stroke can cause irritation, so running may be a better option with this type of injury.