Trampoline Health Benefits

Overview 
Jumping on a trampoline as a kid seemed like a fun activity. Now there is a craze of trampoline jumping among adults, yet they claim it is for health reasons rather than fun. If you wonder what can be so healthy about bouncing up and down on a springy surface you are not alone. Believe it or not, trampolining can benefit people of all ages in a variety of ways.

Improved Motor Skills

During the developmental years, kids learn skills that will stick with them the rest of their lives. Trampolines help improve motor skills through balance, a stretch-shortening of the muscles and reliance on the brain to connect with the muscles throughout the body in execution of each jump. The more developed motor skills are, the more coordinated the child will be throughout his life.

Cardiovascular Health

Trampolining is a cardiovascular excersize. By increasing your heart rate, trampolining will circulate more blood and oxygen to your tissues. As your heart muscle strengthens, your chances of developing cardiovascular disease decreases. This may lead to controlled blood pressure, weight and blood sugar levels. Likewise, your lungs' oxygen capacity will increase, making daily living activities easier to perform.

Muscle Strength and Endurance

With every jump on the trampoline, your legs will experience a stretch-shortening cycle to catch your landing and propel you back in the air. Your muscles must contract more often than they do with most other exercises, which will increase their endurance. Powerful jumps into the air will strengthen your legs as they work hard to send you flying. Once you become comfortable with the movements involved, more advanced techniques will target different muscle groups to give you a full-body workout.

Mood Booster

According to the MayoClinic.com, exercise releases endorphins and neurotransmitters in the brain, which has feel-good effects. It also reduces chemicals in the immune system that increase depression, as well as calms the body by increasing body temperature. As a break from the norm, trampolining offers a way to get your exercise while having fun. Try jumping on a trampoline for a few minutes and see if you can keep from smiling. Take turns jumping with your kids and you are sure to be laughing at all the silly moves you create.