Swimming as a Sport and AnAll-purpose Activity

Swimming is really a great sport. Do you know that it is a recommended sport for almost everyone specially for those with health problems? For the asthmatic and those with respiratory problems, it is a great exercise for the lungs since it encourages deep breathing pretty much like playing the flute or even singing does. For the people with heart conditions, it is a great cardiac exercise. For the menopausal women, and those at risk for osteoporosis, it provides the necessary demand required by the body to keep its calcium levels in the bones. For the pregnant woman, for the children, for the adults and the seniors. For kids, it is a total workout needed to make the brain function well resulting to an attentive mind in class. For the scoliotic, it provides the necessary exercise to strenghten the back muscles. For the ladies with irregular periods, a regular swim will regulate it. For the weightwatchers, swimming is one of the most effective workout.

At the moment I can only think of 4 conditions that will not recommend swimming: 1. for those with Congestive heart failure since any activity for that matter will cause the heart to work fast; 2. for those who are prone to skin cancer but this can be prevented by regular application of sunblock; 3. during a or just after a hypertensive attack because it will raise the blood pressure all the more;4. for those who have epilepsy or are taking drugs that cause drowsiness. In these conditions, swimming will not be beneficial and might even be fatal. But all as with all other conditions, swimming outweighs the disadvantanges.

It is a great activity to do with the whole family. In my husband's family, there has never been a summer that did not involve going for a swim whether it be at a nearby pool or a beach outing somewhere. You don't have to be a really good swimmer but you do have to know how to swim and not just to float. So while in Manila, why not attend a swimming lesson with Coach Efren Jocson of the Pasig Flying Dolphins Swimming Team? They meet every weekend at the Philippine Sports Commission's ULTRA Swimming pool. This is located in Pasig.

Don't get me wrong. This is not a paid blog. I'm promoting the team because I believe that the coach is doing a good work with the training he is providing the children. And, he doesn't charge so much. Actually, I don't think he earns a living out of the fees he collects from us. You can hardly even call it a fee. I'm not authorized to say how much but I assure you it is really, really low. So, let me urge you to get in touch with him. It's a good way to train your kids. Who knows they might end up as a varsity player and get a scholarship in the process? That's not a far-fetched idea as a few of those under Coach Efren's tutelage are already scholars. Ask Tito Guch or Manay Jane who are parents of two students and they'll swear that they will not have anyone else handle their children's swimming lessons. Way to go Coach!

When going for a swim though, you have to bring the right stuff. But that's my next blog. watch out for it.

Oh My Poor Back! - Scoliosis Management

Scoliosis inflicts anyone in any age or gender and there's really no special reason for doing so. In fact, in the Philippines, it is present in about 4 out of 10 girls. The sad thing is that there is really no cure for it. But the good news is that it can be managed.

With prompt attention, further curvature of the back can actually be prevented. Take it from me. My daughter has it. And I try to support her in most things that she needs to do. Her treatment includes daily exercises which could last anywhere from 30 minutes to more than an hour depending on how fast she does each exercise. I have to help her with some bending that she does only to stabilize her. She goes to swim classes every week to build stamina and she wears a body brace which covers just below her neck to her hip.

When we found out about her scolio, she was devastated having been told that she has to do the management until she's 18. And that if her scolio progresses, she'll have to undergo surgery. I felt so bad for her too because we were also told that the chances of it progressing was 50/50 since she was only 13 then and her bones were so soft yet.

We had a visit to her orthopedic surgeon and her orthotist and they have both give us a thumbs up on the results so far. The secret really is prayers, prompt attention and compliance to the treatment. All the components of the treatment has to be done. We still have 4.5 years more but with God's grace we will overcome it.

For consultation, please get in touch with Dr. Acedillo and Dr. Bate of the Medical City, Ortigas Blvd., Philippines. for swimming, get in touch with Coach Efren Jocson, head coach of the Flying Dolphins Swimming Team at the ULTRA Swimming pool every weekend.