Researchers Want to Unveil Swimming's Health Benefits

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/top-stories/researchers-want-to-unveil-swimming-s-health-benefits-1.1993559

“The researchers began recruiting subjects between the ages of 50 and 80 this month. They received a grant from the American Heart Association in August, but it did not take effect until Oct. 1. Twenty subjects will participate in a 12-week, monitored swimming program, while another 20 participants who comprise the control group will participate in relaxation and breathing exercises, said Nualnim, the study’s principal investigator. Potential subjects are undergoing baseline testing, including a measure of body fat and blood pressure, scans of arteries and a measure of aerobic capacity on a treadmill, she said. The 12-week program is expected to begin in November, and it could take two or three months to analyze the collected data, Nualnim said. ‘When you describe exercise to people, you usually describe it as improving cardiovascular health, and swimming is one of the most popular forms,” she said. “We want to prove that swimming can lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health."