5 Ways Bodyweight Training Improves Your Swimming Performance

The most ambitious swimmers are always looking for ways to get faster. The traditional mentality of “swim more, swim faster” will only get you so far, and while it is true that the majority of your workouts will consist of training in the pool or open water, the positive effects of strength training with your own body weight are often underestimated.

While is true that the best way to become better at an activity is to spend time actually doing it, in some cases swimming more does not always translate to an increase in performance.

“You’ll increase bone density and strengthen the tendons and ligaments, so not only are you simply able to lift more weight, but you’re also building resistance to injury,”

– Michael Boyle, a Functional Training expert

Related: A Beginner’s Guide To Strength Training For Swimmers

Out of water training can improve swimming performance, body awareness, and prevent injury. The following six concepts explain how bodyweight training can improve your swimming performance.

1) You’ll Have Better Body Position

A strong core is crucial for maintaining a high body position in the water. Not just your abs, but your entire torso plays a major role in holding this position in the water.

If you have a weak core, your body will be forced to compensate, resulting in a sub-par body position. A balanced core maximizes your stroke efficiency, thus helping you swim faster and expend less energy.

Related: 10 Best Core Dryland Exercises for Swimmers

2) Your Strokes Are More Efficient

Muscle imbalances and unstable joints lead to less efficient power output. This decreases the effectiveness of your walls and the propulsion you generate from each stroke.

The more stability and strength you have, the more efficiently you can transfer of force through your strokes and kick.

3) You Become More Flexible

Bodyweight training exercises can be complex and strengthen more than just your muscles. Bodyweight movements increase mobility and agility. Flexibility is a combination of strengthening, mobilization and stretching. These are all major components to increasing agility and efficiency in the water.

See Also: 34 Stretches To Keep You Young & Healthy

4) You Will Reduce Stress On Your Shoulders

Shoulder injuries are common among swimmers, mainly due to weak supporting muscles in the musculature surrounding the shoulder joint. Every time you swim, you’re putting stress on these small joints, which can cause problems over time.

With a balanced dryland training regimen, this wear and tear can be lessened on the rotator cuff by engaging muscles on the back and shoulder.

See Also: 3 Ways To Prevent Shoulder Injury

5) Reduce Risk of Injury

Most swimmers’ problems are a result of either muscle imbalances, improper stroke technique, or overuse. Muscle imbalances can be easily addressed out of the water with bodyweight exercises that isolate muscle groups that may not be as regularly engaged in the pool.

Strength training and stabilization exercises as a regular part of swim training can help improve form and muscle engagement, thus lowering risk of injury.

How to Get Started

You don’t need equipment to get started! Body weight squats, pushups, walking lunges, and planks are a fantastic way to get stronger. Check out the dryland training plans in the MySwimPro app and start working toward your goals!

• Dryland for Beginners Plan (2 weeks)
• Get Stronger, Swim Faster: Intermediate Dryland Plan (6 weeks)
• Max Performance: Advanced Dryland Plan (4 weeks)
• Swimmer’s Core (4 weeks)
• Low Impact (6 weeks)
• Swimmer Strength (8 weeks)
• HIIT (6 weeks)
• 14-Day Sweat (2 weeks)

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