You may think of trampolines as a fun activity for family of all ages and sizes, but did you know that trampolining is actually considered to be one of the best forms of exercise? As you jump on a trampoline, you experience a brief weightless state while in the air. Once you hit the bottom of the mat, your body can experience up to 4Gs of gravitational force. This force provides a combination of health benefits that no other exercise can provide. The act of trampolining is also referred to as rebounding, for those doing exercises on a mini trampoline. There are several different benefits that come from incorporating trampolining, or rebounding, into your daily workout routine.
Safer, more effective than jogging
The flagship research that initially spoke of the benefits of rebounding was from a 1979 NASA study, which NASA published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 1980. According to the report, rebounding exercise is 68% more efficient than jogging. As a total body exercise, rebounding works every part of the body – increasing how many and how quickly you burn calories. NASA’s study claimed that someone spending one hour rebounding would burn more calories than that person would jogging for an hour.
Benefits the lymphatic system
Your lymphatic system fights bacterial and viral infections and removes waste from the body. The lymphatic system solely relies on our body movement as a pump to transport the waste out of your body. Since trampolining is a total body exercise, the constant accelerating and decelerating movements exercise the lymph valve and ducts, drastically increasing lymph flow. Trampolining for just a few minutes a day can provide major benefits to lympathic functions.
Potential to reduce cancer risk
The improved circulation of lymphatic fluid that rebounding provides also helps destroy cancerous cells in the body. Just as the fluid collects waste, bacteria, and damaged cells, it will collect any cancerous cells that are present and drain it from the body. The fact that few exercises support lymphatic system development further justifies how impactful rebounding can be to one’s overall health.
Strengthens bone mass
The 1980 NASA study also sited rebounding as being one of the best exercises for rebuilding lost bone tissue, after they studied astronauts who would lose bone mass while in space and observing them regain the mass due to rebounding. The increased G force on the bones strengthens them with less risk of injury than other forms of exercise. Trampolining’s effectiveness for strengthening bone density can also help prevent osteoporosis and even reverse the damage.
It’s fun and safe exercise for all
Running or jogging exerts a surplus of pressure on one’s joints, feet, and legs, which can promote pain and cause injury. Meanwhile, jogging or jumping on a trampoline can be more effective, as it allows you to exercise for longer without getting winded or overexerting pressure on your joints and limbs. Without the high impact of a hard surface on the body, rebounding can be a safe form of exercise for any type of person – seniors, those with limited mobility, young children, or beginners of exercise.
Best of all, it doesn’t feel like exercise! While there are exercises you can do on the trampoline, simply bouncing up and down can get you the results you need from exercise. If you don’t have a big backyard to fit a trampoline, consider getting a smaller one and enjoy the same benefits. JumpSport Fitness Trampolines come in all shapes and sizes to ensure you can enjoy this fun and effective exercise in the comforts of your home, regardless of how much room you have.