Jumping up and down on beds and trampolines is something children have always enjoyed. Recent years have seen increased popularity of the mini-trampoline, called a rebounder, for adults as a form of exercise. Rebounding has a number of health benefits, including speeding up the action of the body's lymphatic system to bring nutrients to the cells and carry away waste products.
The Lymphatic System
The volume of lymph fluid in the body is four times as much as the volume of blood. The lymphatic system is stimulated by movement and is not pumped throughout the body in the same way that the heart pumps blood. The lymph fluid moves through channels that are called "vessels." These are filled with one-way valves, allowing the lymph fluid always to flow in the same direction. The main lymph vessels run up the legs, arms and torso. For this reason, the vertical up and down movement of jumping up and down on a rebounder is effective for pumping lymph.
Mini-Trampoline
Although a full-sized trampoline would have the same effect, the mini-trampoline is easier to find space for and store. A typical one measures about 3 feet in diameter and is approximately 9 inches high. While jumping on the mini-trampoline, your body experiences gravitational pulls ranging from zero at the top of each bounce to two to three times the gravitational force at the bottom. Unlike jogging, which stresses and can damage certain joints, rebounding affects each joint and cell in the body equally. As you begin to exercise on a rebounder, toxins are moved to the lymph ducts, then are transported to the kidney and liver. Exercising for anywhere from five to 20 minutes promotes the flow of lymph and eliminates toxins.
Workouts
According to Healing Daily website, the best exercise to start with is the "health bounce," in which your feet stay in contact with the trampoline while your body moves up and down. It is recommended that you do this with bare feet to avoid slipping. Once you are familiar with this bounce, you can start leaving the trampoline a few inches as you jump. Some trampolines have bars to hold onto until you feel stable enough to jump on your own. Most companies that sell rebounders also sell videos or DVDs that provide exercise programs.
Other Benefits
In addition to helping the lymphatic system, Dr. Morton Walker, a podiatrist and author of 92 books in the alternative health field, cites 30 anti-aging benefits of rebounding. Some of those include helping to fight fatigue, strengthening and nourishing the heart, improving circulation, reducing blood pressure, facilitating oxygen flow, reducing obesity, increasing muscle tone and stimulating metabolism.
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