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How Swimming Modulates Inflammatory Pathways in Pain, Neurodegenerative, and Metabolic Disorders
Mahdiyeh Kooshki1,2, Rozhin Rezeai-Farimani2,3,4, Amirmohammad Moradpour1,3,4
1Patient Safety Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran.
Brain Sciences
|October 29, 2025
Summary
Regular swimming exercise reduces inflammation throughout the body. This low-impact activity boosts anti-inflammatory agents, potentially lowering risks for cardiovascular, neurological, and rheumatological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Exercise immunology
- Molecular biology
- Systematic review
Background:
- Swimming is a non-weight-bearing, full-body exercise with potential anti-inflammatory benefits.
- It may reduce the risk of cardiovascular, neurological, and rheumatological disorders by modulating immune responses.
- This review examines evidence on swimming's role in immune modulation via inflammatory pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the evidence on swimming exercise's effects on immune responses and inflammation.
- To identify specific molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in swimming-induced anti-inflammatory effects.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus databases up to December 2024.
- Keywords related to swimming and inflammation were used, yielding 509 articles.
- 102 articles met the inclusion criteria after screening for relevance, language, and full-text availability.
Main Results:
- Swimming reduces neuroinflammation by enhancing BDNF, CREB, and PI3K/Akt signaling while suppressing NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6.
- It improves mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant defense in metabolic tissues by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1α.
- Swimming decreases vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in renal and cardiac tissues by modulating PPAR-α, eNOS, and iNOS, alongside systemic anti-inflammatory effects via IL-10, IL-1β, and CRP.
Conclusions:
- Swimming is a low-impact, full-body exercise with potential therapeutic applications for inflammation-related conditions.
- It shows promise in managing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.
- Future research should prioritize human clinical trials, mechanistic investigations, and longer-term assessments.
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