Pilates For Swimming

Swimming involves a combination of strength and mobility, especially around the shoulders, as well as good stroke technique.

Shoulder inflexibility and poor upper body posture can have a real impact on your stroke technique and is rotator cuff a common cause of shoulder injuries.

As a competitive swimmer, this can significantly shorten your sporting career.

The upper back (thoracic spine) has a huge impact on shoulder mobility and for butterfly in particular you need to have strength and integrated mobility throughout the whole spine.

A strong, stable pelvis and core to connect the upper and lower limbs is also essential, along with joint flexibility in the feet and ankles.

Swimming is among the most popular low-impact fitness activities.
Swimming is excellent cardiovascular exercise and a great sport to add to a cross-training program.

If swimming is your only sport, however, we would strongly advise you to add some land-based form of exercise for bone loading.

No matter how much coaching you have, if your body doesn’t have the right combination of mobility and stability to create an efficient stroke you will struggle to achieve the stroke you are training for.
Whether you are a recreational swimmer or a competitive swimmer, Pilates exercises to improve your body mechanics will make your stroke more efficient and effective.