Swimming Helical Style (Helix)

Many potential swimmers look at swimming as a boring activity. For them and for the sake of rehabilitation in water (Hydrotherapy),  a new style of 'Hellical Swimming' was designed by Professor David G. Mendes MD.

The aim of this style is to upgrade coordination of motion of the body and four extremities and coordinate the rate of breathing during that activity thus increasing the 'joy of swimming'.

'Helical motion' describes the spiral motion of a driven screw.

In fact in Nature, unicellular and invertebrate organisms do swim along a helical path (MJ McHenry in J. Exp. Biology 2001, 204:2959), and in the depth of the ocean miniature creatures are traced twisting in helical motion.

Indeed sperm reaches to fertilize the female ovum through a helical path.

The swimmer advances in horizontal direction while performing a full twist in a longitudinal axis.

A full twist means that the body and extremities turn up side down and down side up.

The four extremities move reciprocally preferably in a crawl style.

The Twisting motion is done while the arms and legs are held in extended longitudinal position.

The body twists continuously in same direction either clockwise or counter clockwise.

The rate of the twist is up to the swimmer decision.

Teaching and Exercising 'Helical Style' in water by stages

Twisting motion of the body in longitudinal axis.

Breathing while twisting – inspiration face up and expiration face down.

Crawl style motion of the extremities while twisting the body.

Optimal coordination of twisting and breathing in own rate.

Unique advantages of swimming 'Helical style'

Achieving control and coordination of motion over the twisting body and extremities in water.

Achieving control and coordination of breathing in water with alternating face up and face down.