I remember years ago as a lanky unimpressed teenager, watching my mum bouncing around on her little trampoline in the back garden. She was obsessed with the health guru Leslie Kenton and was determined to ‘bounce herself lean.’ Fast forward 40 years and I am now obsessed.
Rebounding or bouncing up and down on a mini trampoline has had a resurgence in popularity. Why the hype, well it turns out that according to a study conducted by NASA and published in the Journal of Applied Physiology 49(5): 881-887, 1980,, “ rebound exercise is the most efficient, effective form of exercise yet devised by man.” This can be attributed to ,” the efficient use of the vertical forces of acceleration and deceleration to produce internal loading by directly opposing the gravitational pull which develops more bio mechanical work with less energy expended, thus less oxygen used and less demand placed on the heart.” In short it was found rebounding is 68 % more effective than jogging with less impact on the joints.
From my own experience I’ve found it to be an incredibly enjoyable excersise that doesn’t require an expensive gym membership and can be done inside or outside depending on the weather and lasting results can be seen in less time.
Let’s look at the main benefits in no particular order.
1 Increases bone density
2 Builds muscle. With the constant change between contraction and relaxation, muscles grow effectively and naturally. The body also automatically activates core muscles helping the abdominal, back and pelvic muscles to get stronger and more toned.
3 Helps improve coordination and balance
4 Simulates drainage of the lymphatic fluid and helps reduce cellulite.
5. Boosts fat burning and weight loss by increasing metabolism. Just 10 minutes of bouncing burns more calories than 30 minutes of running.
6. Reduces back pain and tension by strengthening core muscles. The vibrational action will also help to lubricate your intervertebral discs to prevent pain and the up and down movement acts like a gentle massage on the discs.
7. Strengthens the heart . Rebounding is very effective at increasing stamina and conditioning muscles at the same time. Great for the cardiovascular system and excellent for supporting oxygen supply for a healthy heart.
8 Relieves stress after just a few minutes of bouncing by helping to release endorphins. The relaxed bouncing motion is addictive and fun.
9. Regulates blood sugar levels by helping your cells to respond better to insulin. This is because the greater the muscle mass the better your blood sugar storage. Also with increased blood circulation, cells are better supplied with oxygen.
10. Improve skin tone and elasticity.
Which rebounder do I recommend and use myself. Hands down the best rebounder is the German-engineered Bellicon. Having tried many others including my Mum’s in the 1980s it really does make a difference which one you choose. For extra stability and a better bounce Bellicon use bungees instead of metal springs which offers much more protection for the joints.
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