If you are looking for a way to burn calories without putting too much stress on your joints, going for a swim could be a good choice of workout for you. Due to the resistance of the water, impact on joints is low but effort level is high and you can burn up to 400 cal an hour doing vigorous lengths of your local pool.
Technique is important when swimming, so even if you can already swim it would be a good idea to get some lessons. Many people, myself included, hate putting their head under the water, but I’m afraid if you swim along with your head held high you are putting your neck and upper back under a lot of strain.
Wearing goggles is an absolute necessity in my opinion for correct swimming and if you hate the feeling of water going up your nose, nose clips are inexpensive and easy to buy. Properly kitted out you will not mind putting your head underwater and your swimming technique will improve accordingly, with little strain on your back.
The leg pattern used in breaststroke can also put strain on your lower back and sacrum; if you find this is a problem you will have to stick to front crawl and concentrate on mastering the challenging breathing pattern!
Exercising in water can work for if you are a poor swimmer or even if you cannot swim at all, as just wading through water at chest height involves effort and thus burns calories. Aquaerobics classes are very popular and are an excellent form of exercising without strain; the instructor teaches from the edge of the pool so that the moves are easy to follow.
There is no complicated choreography to learn, and you will be surprised at how effective this form of exercise is, and how tired you are by the time the class has finished. And best of all you need not even get your hair wet! Aquaerobics is perfect for injury rehabilitation or for those who need to lose a lot of weight as the water takes much of the strain.