Comparing rowing and swimming: Which activity results in a higher calorie burn?

Engaging in cardio workouts is an effective strategy for enhancing fitness, and endurance, and facilitating calorie burn for weight loss. Rowing and swimming are two such workouts, each offering distinct advantages for physical well-being.

Rowing, often perceived as a practical exercise, can be conveniently performed on a rowing machine at the gym or in the comfort of one’s home. On the contrary, swimming necessitates access to water, potentially posing accessibility challenges for some individuals.

The crucial question revolves around which activity yields a higher calorie burn. To shed light on the benefits of rowing and swimming, we consulted with an expert and conducted an in-depth exploration of the calorie-burning potential of each cardio style. Continue reading to uncover more insights.

Rowing provides a comprehensive full-body cardio workout, enhancing heart and lung health, stamina, and reducing the risk of heart disease, according to Campbell. It engages various muscle groups, including the legs, core, back, and arms, ensuring balanced muscular development. Lucy highlights that rowing is gentle on joints, making it suitable for individuals of diverse fitness levels and ages, and its low-impact nature reduces the likelihood of injuries. The rower offers versatility for both high-intensity interval training and lower-intensity aerobic workouts, such as the popular 2km row time trial.

Similarly, swimming delivers an effective full-body cardio workout, whether in a pool or outdoors. The buoyancy of water minimizes joint stress, making it an excellent choice for individuals recovering from injuries and ideal for active recovery in high-intensity training routines, notes Lucy. Swimming also promotes rhythmic and controlled breathing, offering benefits for those with asthma or respiratory conditions.