So Get Out Your Seat and Jump Around!

As a kid, jumping is nothing but fun. Very quickly after we learn to walk and run, we start trying to jump. We learn to love hopscotch and jumping rope. We can’t wait for parties with bounce houses, even as adults. But perhaps most exciting of all is jumping on a big, bouncy trampoline. As we get older, jumping becomes something we do on very rare occasions.

Is Jumping Better Than Running?

As we get older, we often replace jumping with running, especially as it pertains to exercise. Instead of jumping on a trampoline or grabbing a skipping rope for a few minutes of fun, we force ourselves to run miles in order to lose weight. But is running actually better? Or would we be better off jumping our way to better health?

Jumping may be the better choice, and here is why. Jumping is an exercise that work large muscle groups to spend energy and burn calories. A jump is quick and powerful and requires full use of the lower muscle groups. It also requires the use of the abdominal muscles for stabilization of the body. Jumping strengthens the muscles as well as the cardiovascular system. While running also requires these muscle groups and improves your cardio, studies indicate that when exercising at a medium or high intensity, you’ll get more benefit and burn more calories with jumping.

What is the Advantage of Using a Trampoline?

Jumping can be especially difficult on the joints. The impact can cause discomfort to already aching joints, or in some cases, may create new pains that weren’t present before. The main benefit of taking your exercise routine to a trampoline is the reduced impact.

Jumping on a trampoline still allows you to maintain your cardiovascular level. It raises the heart rate and improves blood flow, but it does so while also reducing impact on the joints. For anyone who suffers from joint problems, this is a significant advantage that makes the entire exercise process easier and more enjoyable.

Is a Trampoline Friendly to My Joints and Spine?

Because of the low impact that the trampoline brings to your workout, the trampoline is considered joint and spine friendly. If you want the benefit of trampoline use without bringing potential injury or harm to your body, it’s important to use the right kind. An outdoor trampoline, the kind made for backyards and marketed toward children, isn’t necessarily a good choice for exercise. These will certainly help burn calories and engage the muscles, but they also bring an injury risk. If you want to jump on a trampoline, consider a rebounder trampoline instead. These are small and low to the ground. They take the impact off of the joints and spine without increasing the risk.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Trampoline?

Besides the advantage of a lower impact workout, using a trampoline for exercise brings other benefits as well. Some of the most well-documented benefits of trampoline use include:

• Improves bone density – As we age, we lose bone mass. We’re more likely to suffer with conditions such as osteoporosis with each passing year. Trampoline jumping may actually help us increase bone density.
• Weight loss – Jumping burns calories, and burning calories leads to weight loss.
• Strengthens the body – Jumping strengthens multiple areas of the body and overall health. Because of muscle engagement, it strengthens the muscles and helps build muscle mass. It also helps strengthen the cardiovascular system, builds stamina, and strengthens the bones.

Is a Trampoline One of the Most Fun Workouts?

If the benefits of mini trampoline workouts aren’t convincing enough, consider this: Trampoline exercise is fun. Jumping on a trampoline takes us back to childhood. It makes us feel energized and alive. It makes us smile and lowers stress.