Introduction
Swimming is an excellent recreational, competitive and therapeutic activity that can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. Aquatic exercise and therapy are used to treat and prevent several physical ailments. In addition to swimming's therapeutic role, several aquatic activities are very popular for recreational purposes. An individual's ability to swim and feel comfortable in the water creates opportunities to become involved in other water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing and water skiing. Swimming is an official sport of the United States of America Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) , the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA) , Special Olympics International (SOI) , the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) , Wheelchair Sports USA (WSUSA) , Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA) , and the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) .
This fact sheet was last updated on 12-12-2005.
The information provided in this website was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number U59/CCU522742-02 from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).