How and when to use drag suits in swimming?

Are you ready to level up your training? In this note we tell you everything you need to know about drag suits in swimming with Lifeguard Recertification near me. 

Drag suits or "drag suit" are an important option for experienced swimmers who want to strengthen their performance. These specialized outfits allow:

•     Increase physical resistance to water
•     Tone more the muscles of the body
•     Develop higher speed
•     Improve mental development during competitions

What are the benefits of drag material? 

By using a specialized drag suit in training, the swimmer acquires greater skills because he feels slower, which triggers that, on the other hand, when competing -without the drag material- he is lighter and more agile. . It is about adding difficulty to achieve better results in resistance.

To understand how much exercise can be varied by modifying swim attire, just remember that some athletes even shave exposed areas of the body before major competitions to reduce friction with the water as much as possible and gain speed.

John Hawley and Louise Burke's book on sports performance cites observational studies of swimmers before and after waxing that conclude that "removal of body hair in contact with water reduces the physiological effort required to maintain a given speed." during the race, and translates into a reduction of the active drag during the impulse phase with American Lifeguard Events Vienna”.

If body hair can make the difference of greater effort in training, imagine how much more we can work our performance by adding professional drag materials to swimsuits?

When is it time to wear drag suits in swimming? 

Despite the benefits that can result from the use of drag gear for training, it is important to note that not every swimmer is in a position to challenge themselves with this gear.

Before starting with this level of demand, the athlete must master swimming and breathing techniques and have developed a certain toning in his muscles so as not to suffer injuries from overexerting his body's resistance.

For this reason, swimming training with drag elements is indicated for high-level athletes with a fine-tuned technique. Otherwise, the swimmer might even deteriorate his style because of the added difficulty that will affect his position.

In addition, the use of the drag suit generates greater exhaustion. In the face of excessive fatigue, different groups of muscles become more tired and may cause cramps with the risk that this implies for the athlete.

To give you an idea, it's like going to the gym when we can lift weights of up to four kilos and try to lift dumbbells of eight or ten from one day to the next. You have to know how to understand that every sport requires a time of exercise and progressive training to reach a greater capacity of demand.

How are drag suits for swimming? 

Some styles of drag suits include nylon inserts or pockets with holes of different sizes that cause water to resist between the clothing and the athlete has to exert more effort to swim.

The number of pockets can reach four and will always be symmetrical between the sides of the body so as not to affect the swimmer's posture.

Most of the models are used above the conventional mesh. However, some swimmers choose to train wearing old, worn suits or short-sleeved shirts. Thus, in an economical way, they add a higher level to their training in the pool.

For the same purpose, we can also add swimming parachutes to our exercise. These tools are especially recommended for the training of competitive swimmers as they favor the development of speed and improve strength and technique.

The additional resistance to the water helps to strengthen the main muscles that are the ones that move the weight of the body.

The swimming parachute is made up of a comfortable and adjustable nylon belt, which is connected to an outer fabric that pockets the water as it moves forward. Thus, the athlete will be forced to reinforce resistance and exert greater force to move with :Lifeguard Class.