Why Jumping on a Trampoline is Good for You
Health benefits of jumping on a trampoline:
- Strengthens leg muscles and core muscles without damaging joints
It’s no surprise that using muscles makes them stronger. It does surprise people how much muscle-building they’re doing on a trampoline. That’s because unlike running, jumping on a trampoline is a low-impact activity. According to one Times article comparing jumping to running, “even though the motions are similar in jumping, the trampoline absorbs some of that shock, causing the impact forces on the feet and lower extremities to ease up.” This means that while it builds muscles in your legs and core, it doesn’t cause the same wear and tear to your joints that running does.
- Provides a cardiovascular workout
NASA even did a study comparing trampolining to high-impact exercise like running. One Livestrong.com article reports that study found “both jogging and rebounding (another word for jumping on a trampoline) produced similar heart rate levels and oxygen consumptions. However, the trampolining produced greater biochemical results with less demand on the heart, making it more efficient than running.” The same article compares the calories burned from jogging to the calories burned from rebounding. One hour of jogging at a rate of 4 miles per hour burns almost exactly the same number of calories as one hour of “moderate-intensity” rebounding.
- Improves lymphatic function
Your lymphatic system is the system in your body that moves waste from cells into your waste removal system, which includes your liver and kidneys. Anything that gets your blood pumping helps this system function, but according to a Money Crashers article by exercise and sports scientist Laura Williams, “the up-and-down bouncing of trampolining is particularly effective because it’s relatively easy to perform and stimulates the lymph system’s one-way valves to open and close simultaneously.” This makes it easier for your body to take out the trash, so to speak.
- Makes exercise fun
According to Time Magazine, a study from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) finds that jumping on a trampoline “for less than 20 minutes is just as good for you as running, but feels better and is a lot more fun.” The study found that trampolining is “moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise.” Despite this, “when people were asked to rate how exerted they felt, they gave scores more consistent with light-to-moderate intensity—suggesting that the workout felt easier than it should have.” This is great news because you’re much more likely to stick with a form of exercise you enjoy!
The health benefits of jumping on a trampoline are great. The benefits of jumping around a huge room full of trampolines are probably even better! Take your fitness to the next level by flying through the air, tackling obstacle courses and much more at Airborne Trampoline Park.