Trampoline Therapy

If you ever played on a trampoline as a child, you may remember the joy and exhilaration of jumping high and the weightlessness you felt while airborne. Trampoline jumping is more than a fun way to play or exercise — it provides multiple health benefits that promote mental and physical well-being. Besides being a convenient way to exercise at home, trampoline exercise, or rebounding, is used as a therapeutic tool. Always check with your doctor before starting any type of new exercise.

Safety

If you choose to rebound on a full-size trampoline, place it in a location that is clear of buildings and other dangerous objects. Also set it up on flat and stable ground. Set up a mini trampoline in a safe location in your home or outside. Some large and mini — or rebounder — trampolines come with nets that surround the trampoline parameter to prevent accidental falls. Many rebounders also come with handle bars that help with balance. The HealthGuidance website recommends taking extra safety precautions for children, such as covering the springs and frame with shock-absorbing pads, as well as using some type of trampoline enclosure system.

Special Needs Therapy

Some trampoline and gymnastics organizations have teamed up with schools and other organizations to work with special needs children to help them gain skills, such as self-confidence, balance and coordination. For example, ArtSports World of Colorado Springs, Colorado, has partnered with The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind to give kids trampolining opportunities. Several other organizations work with ArtSports World to help children between 9 months and 12 years with disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy, as well as children with emotional issues and attention deficit disorders. Trampoline therapy is especially beneficial to those with autism and sensory integration disorders, according to the HealthGuidance website.

Mental Health

According to the All About Depression website, biological imbalances in the body can lead to mental health problems. Trampolining helps to rectify many of these imbalances, according to personal trainer Cindy Brotherton. For example, rebounding helps detoxify the body and promotes lymphatic system flow, and it helps to boost adrenal health. Toxins in the body may lead to a host of mental and physical health conditions, and adrenal weakness often leads to illnesses and conditions such as depression, anxiety, premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, irritability and hypoglycemia.

Physical Fitness

Trampolining as a low-impact form of aerobics exercise not only helps to lift mood but also supports total fitness, according to Albert E. Carter in his 2006 book, “Rebound Exercise.” According to the Mayo Clinic, moderate aerobic exercise decreases health risks, helps keep extra weight off, strengthens your cardiovascular system and boosts mood. Besides its cardiovascular health benefits, rebounding promotes weight loss and metabolism, as well as muscle and bone strength, says Carter. Trampoline therapy is more beneficial than jogging, says Brotherton.