Two musts for swimming

This series of articles about the musts of popular summertime muscular physical activities ends today with this last one, which will present muscular exercises that can be used to improve your performance when swimming. These two exercises will strengthen your back muscles, which are working really hard when swimming. They can be done 2 to 3 times a week, before or after your swimming workouts, or on days when you do not swim.

Exercise 1: Pullover
Target areas: Back
Accessories: A dumbbell
How many: 2 sets of 12 repetitions
Execution: Lay on a bench with your arms straight. Keep your abs tensed and avoid arching your back (A). Extend your arms from the shoulders until the dumbbell is over your chest (B). Repeat.

Exercise 2: Reverse fly
Target areas: Back
Accessories: Dumbbells
How many: 2 sets of 12 repetitions
Execution: Stand upright with your torso bent forward, your chest out, your head up, and your arms hanging down (A). Lift your arms to the sides and bring your shoulder blades together at the end of the contraction (B). Repeat.

By Karine Larose
Model: Mathieu St-Ours