The 10 Most-Read USMS Articles of 2022

With 2022 ending soon, we collected our most-read articles from the year in one place, so you have easy access to some of the most-popular content we’ve produced over the past 12 months.

10. Omicron Variant and COVID-19 Vaccines: What Swimmers Need to Know (Updated January 2022)

The coronavirus appeared in the U.S. nearly two years ago, and the news appears to just keep getting worse. The pandemic has killed more than 850,000 Americans, and nearly 64 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Everyone’s lives have been disrupted to some extent.

Although three vaccines and booster shots are now available in the U.S., the pandemic continues to disrupt life as we once knew it. Since December 2021, case counts and hospitalizations have skyrocketed thanks to a contagious new variant called omicron, which makes a return to normal longer than first hoped when vaccines debuted.

Here’s an updated look at what you need to know about what’s happening and how that might impact your swimming.

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9. Best Swimming Workouts for Weight Loss

It’s a well-known fact that swimmers like to eat—a lot! And in a perfect world they’re in the pool just enough to balance their eating and swimming in order to maintain their optimal body weight. What happens when suddenly your weight seems higher than normal? Are there workouts that are better than others to take the extra pounds off? Do you need to work out more? Harder? Go on a diet?

Weight loss is pretty simple when you break it down: Fewer calories consumed than your daily caloric expenditure equals weight loss. Your daily caloric expenditure is a function of your metabolism and your activity level. Your calories consumed are what you eat each day. If you’re not one who likes to restrict your eating, increasing or changing your workout plan can help to tip the scale back in your favor. You need to move more to lose more.

When planning your workouts, it’s important to know the time and frequency you have available in your daily schedule. If you’re lucky enough to be retired and can swim for three hours each day, low intensity workouts fit right into your schedule. If you have a full-time job and/or kids, your time is at a premium, and shorter, high-intensity workouts several times a week with recovery days in between would be a better fit.

Often the best balance is a mix of different types of workouts: shorter high- or moderate-intensity workouts to burn a lot of calories in less time, then longer, low-intensity recovery planned for days when time isn’t a factor. In USMS’s Workout Library, you’ll find all types of workouts to mix and match to fit your specific daily needs.

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8. How Many Laps Make a Mile in Swimming?

It’s one of the most common questions lifeguards get when working at a pool: How many lengths do I need to swim if I want to complete a mile?

The simple answer is: It depends on the pool.

First, to cover a mile, you’ll have to swim 5,280 feet, or 1,760 yards, or 1,609.34 meters.

Second, not every pool is the same length. Far from it.

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7. How Soon Can I Swim After Getting Stitches?

It’s not uncommon for people to get stitches in their body at some point in their lifetime. Whether for flesh wounds during an accident or a planned incision through surgery, sutures are a temporary fix to a problem.

The question for swimmers is, can I swim with stitches or sutures? If so, then what do I need to know?

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6. What's a Safe Pool Temperature?

According to the World Health Organization, water temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit are generally comfortable and safe for those engaging in moderate physical activity in a pool.

But health concerns come in with either extreme—too hot or too cold—and when it comes to health concerns related to pool temperature, risk is related to personal health and the type of activity.

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5. Is It OK to Swim With an Open Wound?

Have you ever worried about picking up an unsavory bacterium from swimming with an open wound?

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4. Can I Swim While I’m Sick?

There are times of year when it seems nearly impossible to avoid catching a cold or the flu. Everyone in the office and at your kids’ school is sick and you’re bound to catch something. You might need to stay home to get better and to avoid giving your illness to other people. But you might also feel like there’s no need and you want to get back to swimming.

There are some issues, though, with swimming with a cold. And in addition to worrying about your illness and exercise, you should take into consideration the chance of others catching your cold.

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3. What Times Are Normal for Swimmers My Age?

If you just started swimming, it can be hard to know if you’re doing well. What’s a good time and what’s a normal time for someone your age?

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2. How Can I Avoid a Stuffy Nose, Runny Nose, or Sinusitis After Swimming?

If you find yourself with a runny nose after swimming, you’re not alone. One study found about 35 percent of swimmers reported temporary nasal congestion after swimming. The symptoms can start anywhere from immediately after getting out of the pool to a few hours later.

The bad news: If you’re highly sensitive, then swimming does appear to have a short-term negative effect and can create temporary sinusitis. The good news: The stuffy nose doesn’t seem to correlate with long-term problems on the whole, and there are some ways to help decrease the symptoms.

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1. How Long Should I Wait to Swim After Getting a Tattoo?

You just got some new ink and are wondering how long before you can jump back in the pool. How can you swim with a new tattoo? Even if you’re not supposed to get it wet, is there a way to waterproof a tattoo for swimming?

In a nutshell, the answer to how to swim with a new tattoo is: Don’t. It’s important to give your skin time to heal. Here’s why and what you can do if you absolutely have to swim.

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