Lower Body
The leg muscles are the most obvious working muscles in trampolining or rebounding. The feet stretch as you come down out of a jump, then contract to propel you upward again, working in tandem with the calf muscles. The quadriceps and hamstrings (the thighs) and the gluteals (buttocks) provide the main jumping motion, powerfully flexing to begin the jumping motion and absorbing the impact on the way back down.
The degree of flexion, or bend, in the knee and hip joints dictates how much power the muscles can generate: A small bend gives less latitude, although too great a bend (90 degrees or more) will significantly diminish or negate the muscles' fast-twitch capabilities for jumping.
Though vigorous trampolining can tire the leg muscles, they are not the body's hardest-working during this activity.
Core
The main muscle work done during trampolining occurs in the core of the body. On the downward portion of each jump, the abdominal muscles---the rectus abdominis (down the center) and the internal and external obliques (on the sides)---flex and tighten around the spine, minimizing the natural arch in the lower back and protecting it from hyperextension and injury.
Upper Body
The upper body---namely the arms---primarily provides balance correction during jumping. Therefore, the large muscles don't get much of a workout, but the small stabilizer muscles, particularly in the shoulders and upper back, are in use, though they are unlikely to become fatigued.
The Heart
Don't forget the heart is a muscle too. Trampolining provides a great cardiovascular workout, raising the heart rate and strengthening the heart's endurance and pumping power.
Member Comments