Rebounders or mini trampolines (1) are all the buzz at the moment with their amazing health benefits and low impact on the body and joints.
The idea of rebounding has been around since 1975, it gained popularity in the 1980s when NASA studied the benefits. NASA was trying to find an effective way to help astronauts recover after being in space, by regaining bone and muscle mass. Astronauts can lose as much as 15% of their bone and muscle mass from only 2 weeks at zero gravity. So NASA needed a way to help reverse this damage.
If you are interested in looking at the full list of rebounders you can see our REBOUNDER REVIEWS.
What the NASA study revealed?
NASA tested the astronauts while running on a treadmill, the G-force measured at the ankle was over twice what it was at the back and head. This means that the foot and leg absorb a lot of the force when running, which can explain the higher rates of the foot, shin and knee problems from running. This problem is made even worst by an incorrect running technique. On a rebounder, the G-force was almost identical at the ankle, back, and head and at a lower level than that of the G-force at the ankle on a treadmill. This means that rebounding can exercise the entire body without excess pressure to the feet and legs.
Rebounding is also good for stimulating your lymphatic system (2). Your lymphatic system is composed of your tonsils, thymus, bone marrow, spleen, lymphatic fluid, vessels, and lymph nodes. Your lymphatic system is like your body’s internal filtration system. Its job is to filter your blood and dispose of accumulated toxins and heavy metals. Your body has about three times more lymphatic fluid than blood, but here’s the catch, there’s no pump! Muscle contractions in your body encourage the lymphatic fluid to circulate through a series of one-way valves in your body. So the more you move your body, the more you move your lymphatic fluid.
Without the lymph system our cells, tissue, and organs would become overloaded with toxins. A sluggish or unhealthy lymph system could lead to a weakened immune system, chronic fatigue, aches and pains, bloating, cellulite, your body collecting fat deposits, poor digestion, and fibromyalgia. So having a healthy lymphatic system is critical for your health.
How Does Rebounding Work?
Rebounding uses the forces of acceleration and deceleration and can work on every cell in your body. Rebounding stimulates the flow of lymph fluid. The change in gravitational forces experienced during rebounding allows for greater blood and lymphatic circulation, which in turn increases the number of waste products flushed from cells.
What happens when you bounce?
- At the bottom of the bounce, the lymph valves are closed. Toxins and waste products are being squeezed out from between the cells.
- As the body bounces into the air, the valves are still closed, waste is loosened from the cells.
- At the height of the bounce, the body is weightless. The valves are open and the lymph fluid begins to flow.
- As the body descends, fluid flows, sucking waste products out and away from the cells to be eliminated by the lymph fluid.
Benefits of Rebounding
Here are some of the main benefits of rebounding:
- Improves lymphatic drainage and immune function
- Increases cardiovascular fitness
- Greater balance, agility, and coordination
- Improves circulation and blood pressure
- Reverse hardening of arteries
- Detoxify liver
- Improves digestion and elimination
- Lower elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Strengthens and tones muscles
- Improves quality of sleep
- Burns more calories than jogging
According to Chris Wark (3), cancer survivor, rebounding aids in reducing toxins that are cancerous due to increasing the immune system and the cleansing of the lymphatic system.
Conclusion
Rebounding can be done by anyone no matter what their age or level of fitness. Rebounders come in different sizes and can also have a safety handle bar for people who feel they need a little extra support with their balance.
Poor lymph flow is common in today’s sedentary lifestyle. This is one reason why less active individuals are more susceptible to illness. Sedentary people who have poor diets are often unwell because the body sends all the toxins and waste to the lymphatic system. The lymph flow is poor due to a lack of exercise, so toxins accumulate in the body. Rebounding for just 5 minutes a day will increase the circulation of your lymphatic system.
If you would like some more information on rebounding certified Lymphologist Dave Scrivens (4) explains more about the rebounding and the lymph system.
More Information
If you are looking for more information take a look here.
Reference
1 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trampoline#Mini-trampolines
2 – http://www.lymphnet.org/le-faqs/what-is-lymphedema/what-is-the-lymphatic-system
3 – http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/rebounding/
4 – http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/rebounding-good-for-the-lymph-system/
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