If You Have Neck or Back Disc Issues... Avoid 'This Swimming Style'

[Financial News] Recently, with the overlap of heatwaves and summer vacations, more young people are enjoying exercise in cool water. Additionally, the recent inclusion of swimming pool fees in the year-end tax settlement 'cultural expense deduction' category is increasing the number of people enjoying swimming.
According to Barun Sesang Hospital on the 11th, swimming is an aerobic exercise that consumes calories due to water resistance and has less strain on the spine and joints due to buoyancy. Therefore, it is known as a relatively safe exercise for people with herniated discs or arthritis. Swimming, which uses the whole body evenly, is effective in improving cardiorespiratory endurance and balance, and for a 70kg adult, swimming for 1 hour consumes about 600~700kcal, aiding in weight loss.
However, if you have spinal conditions, you should be careful in choosing your swimming style. Freestyle and backstroke use the whole body in an extended position to move forward, allowing balanced development of core and muscle strength through water resistance. Freestyle and backstroke are good for the back. Especially if you have a herniated disc (lumbar intervertebral disc herniation) or back pain, backstroke, where you move your arms while lying on the water surface, puts the least strain on the back. On the other hand, butterfly, which involves bending the back backward, or breaststroke, which moves up and down using back strength, should be avoided.
For those with a neck disc (cervical intervertebral disc herniation), it is advisable to choose a swimming style that allows slow movement with the neck fixed. Freestyle can strain the neck as it requires repeated head turning for breathing.
Jung Sang-won, director of the Spine Center at Barun Sesang Hospital (neurosurgeon), said, "Swimming is a good rehabilitation exercise for spinal health, but choosing a swimming style that does not match the patient's condition can worsen the condition," adding, "Freestyle is good for those with herniated discs or back pain as it puts less strain on the back, but it is not recommended for those with neck discs as it requires moving the neck side to side. It is important to choose a swimming style and exercise amount that matches your body condition and fitness level rather than blindly following what is good for others."


kim091@fnnews.com Kim Young-kwon Reporter