Is Rebounding or Trampolining Good for Exercise?
Can a “hop, hop, hop” hurt, hurt, hurt?
Ben Greenfield
Ask Get-Fit Guy: Are Rebounding or Trampolining Good for Fitness?
Ask Get-Fit Guy: Are Rebounding or Trampolining Good for Fitness?Question: What is rebounding?
Answer: Also known as trampolining, rebounding is just what it sounds like: a series of leaps, bounds, jumps, and hops on either a trampoline or shoes with special springs designed to replicate a trampoline effect.
Rebounding proponents claim that it can lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease risk, along with improving mood, decreasing weight, and assisting with sleep and energy. Of course, what you must remember is that these benefits occur with all forms of exercise, and not just rebounding.
Rebounding could potentially be beneficial for the following reasons:
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One small study noted 68% improvement in balance. Of course, this improvement was compared to people who didn’t’ exercise at all, so it doesn’t necessarily prove that rebounding is better than any other form of exercise for improving balance.
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Less joint impact and reduced risk of injury. This is probably the biggest advantage of rebounding – and possibly the biggest downfall, because anytime there is less joint impact in an activity, there is also lower potential to build bone density.
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Lymph fluid movement. Bouncing up and down can actually assist lymph fluid to circulate in your body, which could have potential benefits for your immune system. Once again, however, this property is not unique to rebounding, and you could achieve the same effect with an exercise like jumping jacks.
Quick & Dirty Rebounding Tips
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It’s fine to include rebounding in your workout, but if you do, be sure to also include a weekly bout of some type of lower body joint loading exercise such as squats or running, as well as upper body resistance training (unless you plan on handstand rebounding!).
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If you have arthritis or joint pain with other forms of cardio and exercise, rebounding may be a perfect activity that allows you to stay fit.
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When you’re rebounding, the trampoline or springs do some of the work for you (they store and release energy from your body weight), so account for the fact that you may burn fewer calories with this form of exercise.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.