In the past most people have gone to swimming pools for recreation. Who can't remember begging Dad and Mom to stop at a hotel with a swimming pool so that the kids could enjoy playing in it? Coming into the 21st century, though, more and more pools are being designed and constructed to help people become and stay fit.

One big reason for the production of pools specifically for fitness purposes is that swimming is great exercise. Not only is it an exercise which is aerobic, making it similar to walking and running, but the stress placed on the joints in swimming is much reduced since the water supports the body and absorbs some of the impact force. With fitness in mind, special pools have been created, both above ground and inground lap pools among them.

As the name would imply, lap pools are built specifically for exercise in the form of 'lap swimming'. Unique among swimming pool designs, the lap pool is usually of a rectangular shape, which is different from the circular form that is often used for recreational swimming pools. Another unique part of the design of lap pools is that they tend to be much slimmer, often only one lane in width.

Swimming is a great way to gain fitness technique because it is accessible to people of all physical abilities. It is easy on the joints and gently builds muscle without strain. Swimming, like any exercise will also reduce overall stress.

Often, homeowners are constrained by the size of the yard. Where space is limited, an endless pool may be installed instead. Endless pools are a type of lap pool that includes a resistance current and work like treadmills.

One feature of many pools, both elevated and inground lap pools, is a current. In this type of pool, a current is added to the water, flowing in one direction. By swimming against the current, a swimmer can experience an endless swimming pool effect. This makes their workout both more effective as well as allowing the pool to be placed in a smaller space.

Lap pools built inground can be indoor or outdoor. With the indoor versions there is the obvious benefit of not having to be effected by outdoor weather and temperature changes, but this does not mean that outdoor lap pools cannot be used all year. Heated pools are enjoyed by both private homeowners and businesses, and they create a much more comfortable swim no matter the season.

The cost of installing a lap pool depends on the size of the pool and which features are to be included. Usually, a larger pool will cost more to install. Adding features such as heating systems and automatic current will also increase the price. Most people consider the costs of installation to be a small price to pay for the exercise and personal enjoyment that they get from their pools.