Learning to move in the right
manner is the very first and the most important thing you need to learn when it
comes to exercising. For every activity, be it biking, riding, cycling or even
walking, coordinating your arms and legs is something that needs to be
mastered. The better you coordinate, the more efficient you are in any given
exercise or activity. Just like activities such as cycling or biking have a
movement philosophy of their own, swimming, too, requires effective movement
that is different from the kind of movement, necessitated by other activities.
How is Arm Coordination Different in Swimming?
Ever wondered how a person
with a not so good physique or figure ends up being a faster swimmer than one
with a great body? This is because when it comes to swimming, you are not just
required to learn to move your arms faster but move them following certain
techniques. The major difference in movement between running, cycling and
swimming is the application of the leverage. In cycling or biking, you keep in
touch with the ground, which allows your body to go forward with the base kept
firmly on the ground. The turnover of your legs, too, can stay high and you can
constantly push forward without the risk of losing your balance.
In swimming, there is no
concept of leverage simply because your body is not placed anywhere. Swimmers
need to create their own leverage with effective use of their arms and leg
muscles. Simply moving the arms fast is not enough in swimming.
The Biggest Mistake in Coordinating the Arms in the Water
Swimmers, especially
beginners, often focus on moving their arms as fast as possible, resulting in a
“windmill” type of stroke, which is a strict no-no. In this type of stroke, the
swimmer’s arms move in a circular pattern at a very high speed. As such, it
becomes even more difficult for him to place the arms in positions that create
the best-possible leverage against the water. Further, the windmill stroke
compels your hips to lose balance, consumes more energy and also leads to
repetitive motion injuries in the shoulders and elbows.
While experts at the Midlothian Swimming club can help you avoid
this stroke and learn the right ones, here is a tip to understand if you are
performing the wrong technique. Swim fast in a group and see if your arm
coordinates with one another. If it doesn’t then you are probably following the
windmill stroke technique.
The Correct Form of Arm Coordination in Swimming
The Coordinated Freestyle
technique is the best form of arm coordination in swimming. It typically allows
your stroking arm to move into a vertical position in front of your shoulder
while your recovering arm just enters the water. The swimmer can take a brief
pause and extend forward for regaining the coordinated position.
The best thing about this
movement is that it saves a lot of your energy and creates a foundation for a
strong leverage.
So, train yourself on the
best techniques and set about being an expert in the field.
