Swimming vs. Running: Risk of Injury
It is a well-known fact that with the act of exercising comes the risk of injury, whether that be swimming, running, or any other form of exercise.
The extent of just how great your risk of injury is, is entirely subjective not only to you and your health status, but also to the types of exercises that you choose to engage in.
However, and for the most part, these risks should never completely deter you from engaging in physical exercise as the risks associated with having a sedentary lifestyle and being in bad shape are far greater.
Instead, let these risks of injury motivate you to be mindful of how you choose to exercise, to know your limitations, and to use protective gear whenever applicable.
Does swimming have the same benefits as running?
Surprisingly, yes! In fact, as a form of cardio workout, swimming has been shown to be superior to running! Swimming is actually an ideal form of cardio for many reasons, including the fact that it helps lose weight, it is considered a full-body workout, it increases the activity of your metabolism, and so on!
While being in the water, your body experiences greater resistance. This means that you have to exert more power and energy to move, making swimming exercises more effective than exercises done outside the water.
However, being in the water feels weightless, and it is actually a great deal of fun. This workout is also great and beneficial for people of any age, making it an overall better workout than running.
And in case you’re wondering, swimming and running tend to burn almost the same amount of calories!
Are you interested in getting into swimming? It’s never too late, even if you have no prior experience being in the water! Start taking better steps towards your health by signing up to begin your fun yet effective swimming lessons at our recommended SwimRight Academy!
Typical running injuries
Injuries sustained while running generally depend on the distances you are running.
Typical injuries sustained during mid-distance running:
- Hamstring injuries
- Tendonitis
- Backaches
- Hip problems
Typical injuries sustained during long-distance running:
- Achilles tendinitis
- Shin splints
- Stress fractures
- Ankle sprains
Typical swimming injuries
Injuries sustained while swimming generally depend on whether you are swimming competitively or recreationally, although they do tend to overlap at times.
Typical injuries sustained while swimming in a sports pool:
- Bicep tendonitis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Lower back pain
Typical injuries sustained while swimming recreationally:
- Swimmer’s ear (an ear infection that affects the pinna, the outer ear canal and until the eardrum)
- Bicep tendonitis
Risk factors for sports injuries
As mentioned earlier, the risk of injury is associated with pretty much any form of exercise. However, there are certain actions and attributes that could put you at a greater risk of sustaining an injury while swimming, running, or while performing any other form of exercise. These risk factors include:
- Not wearing protective gear or the right clothes and footwear;
- Not warming up prior to exercising;
- A bad diet;
- The type of sport you are playing, how physical it is, and the surface that it is played on;
- Age.
As is expected, the risk of injury increases with our age due to the fact that our bones and muscles lose some of their strength to the process of aging. To combat that, keep engaging in cardio workouts, and keep exercising according to the recommended intensity and volume for your age and gender.
