You don't have to be a kid to enjoy the benefits of jumping and playing on a trampoline. Besides the fun you'll have, reap the many health benefits of trampoline exercise, or rebounding. Promote overall cardio fitness while also fighting the effects of aging and related diseases. Discover how naturally low-impact rebounding promotes and supports systematic changes in the body, such as those that occur with the lymphatic, immune and metabolic systems, according to fitness expert Albert Carter.
Aerobic Exercise
Although most people realize the benefits of aerobic exercise, many have limited schedules or limited mobility, and they find it difficult to follow through with a regular exercise routine. Trampoline exercise not only fits easily into busy lifestyles, but it also works well for people who require low-impact aerobic exercise, writes Carter in his book "Rebound Exercise." Get the same cardio workout benefits from working out with a trampoline as you do from other types of aerobic exercise.
Mini Trampoline
A mini trampoline, or rebounder, is convenient to use and store. It's also inexpensive with typical low-end prices running less than $30, according to Academy Sports + Outdoors. Find various styles with added features, such as safety nets and folding functionality for easy storage. Equally compare 10 minutes of jogging or hopping on a rebounder to jogging outside or on a treadmill. However, avoid the stress on joints, bones and the rest of the body associated with jogging, especially on pavement, according to the website Wellsphere.
Full-size Trampoline
You can perform the same type of rebounder aerobic exercise on a full-size trampoline. As long as you have an ample and safe space for a full-size trampoline, also enjoy exercising with others. A larger trampoline also encourages you to perform more interesting exercises. However, you don't need to jump that high or do flips to get aerobic and other health benefits. Carter suggests sticking with low-impact trampolining for aerobic exercise. He goes on to explain that even Olympic trampolinists prepare for higher jumps, flips and other tricks before performing them. The average person risks injury attempting such feats.
Trampoline Exercises
If you have knee and joint or related health problems, you can perform exercises on a trampoline with barely any impact. Wellsphere reports that NASA has done research showing that rebounding provides 78 percent less "shock impact" than jogging. Just moving your feet and legs up and down without jumping gives you enough exercise on a trampoline, according to the My Health n' Fitness website. Perform knee lifts, leg lifts and various kicks for added benefit. For more vigorous exercise, run and jump in place and include jumping knee lifts and kicks. Mix it up by incorporating jumping jacks, squats and alternating side-to-side body twists. Incorporate arm exercises while hopping, jogging and walking in place.
Health Benefits
Reap other health benefits of rebounding besides the aerobic exercise perks. Performing regular rebounder exercise aids the skin and metabolism, helps fight depression and stress, assists blood pressure and circulation health, relieves arthritis and back problems, and reduces allergies and asthma, according to Carter. Rebounding also stimulates the musculoskeletal, lymphatic and immune systems. Trampoline bouncing boosts the "lymphatic system into greater efficiency in the clearing of waste matter," according to personal trainer Cindy Brotherton on her website Inspirations Personal Training. And that benefit promotes greater immune system effectiveness. Also, NASA studies show that trampoline exercise helps to rebuild lost bone tissue; therefore, it helps fight the effects of osteoporosis.
References
- "Rebound Exercise"; Albert E. Carter; 2006
- Academy Sports + Outdoors: Trampolines
- Wellsphere: Relieve Arthritis Pain by Rebounding
- My Health n' Fitness: Mini Trampoline---Health Benefits of Rebounding
- Inspirations Personal Training: Cindy Brotherton---The Surprising Health and Fitness Benefits of Rebounding



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