Swimming vs Jogging + Weights

[Virgil Damian]

I've just gotten back to training after being out of commission for 2 weeks due to a spinal injury. Should I do swimming or jogging with weights for now? And if I was to do breaststroke, which aspects of my body will be improved?

[wolverine uskf]

I recomend swimming, it's great for loosening and strengthening the joints without impact. It helped me alot, mine was more my arm and leg joints, but it helped my back too.

[Kuma]

Considering your injury, swimming seems the safest for now.

[BDPulver]

I would agree with Kuma here.

As one who has had surgery done swimming is better on the back then jogging. Even doing a brisk walk with weights puts a small strain on the lower area (where i had part of my disk removed and a filler put in to regrow it).

Doing easy stretches and upper body twists slow and steady will help strengthen it. I still have trouble jogging though so i stick to walking instead.

[KarateGeorge]

Not knowing any specifics about your back injury, I would agree that swimming seems to be the safer choice for now. You might also supplement it with back exercises, but before you do that, it would likely be appropriate to consult with your doctor, or physical therapist, etc. to make sure you know what exercises would be safe and appropriate. You wouldn't want to create an even greater problem.

[Virgil Damian]

Thanks for the advice guys. Swimming doesn't really improve the abdominals though, right?

[BDPulver]

actually it can, swimming has some good resistant type excercises that one can do. one of our black belts from ages past use to invite us to her pool during the summer to work out in (gi and all).

when my sensei holds his camps we sometimes run to the river to train in as well. Kicking in water gives a funny to your legs but doing it alot you start to feel it.

[wolverine uskf]

Swimming will work your whole body, my whole left side and back was damaged, and swimming was the first and best workout they would let me do. My strength came back faster and farther than the doctor could believe. When it was time to do physical therapy the doctor told me i was already beyond what he wanted the therapist to do for me, but i do have a habit of pushing myself harder than i should, sometimes.

[sensei8]

I do both; swim and jog. But, I'm tending to do more swimming nowadays because of my age [52 years old] and I want to lessen the impact that jogging puts on ones body. I use to jog 5 miles a day, instead, nowadays I'll do 2.5 miles a day, with more swimming than before. Before, I'd swim once a week, but now, I swim 3 times a week, and I've got to say that swimming is a total workout because of all the different ways one can swim.

[Sokusen]

I was a competitive swimmer from 3rd grade through college and let me tell you swimming absolutely works your abs, if you do it right. Like with any exercise technique is everything. To work your core muscles you have to force your body position to be on top of the water. If you let your legs drag and your butt sink then you won't be engaging your abs and you will be powering your way through the water; which is a great way to tire yourself out real fast and not get the work out your looking for. Supplement your lap swimming with some kick sets with a kick board and focus on keeping your butt at the surface of the water, which will work your abs, plenty. Throw some sprints in to get your heart rate up and you'll be good for the day.