Rebounding Review

Possibly the perfect exercise!

It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s safe for almost anybody of any age… It’s quoted by NASA as “the most efficient and effective exercise yet devised by man”, and you can do it at home whilst watching TV! What is it? Rebounding!

What Is Rebounding?

Put simply – bouncing on a mini trampoline. Unlike regular trampolining, the aim isn’t to bounce high or perform gymnastic tricks, but to perform a series of small, controlled movements.

"Just bought myself a mini trampoline... and what a hoot! It's surprisingly good exercise, and I can have a bounce whilst watching the telly. I'm planning to use it most evenings when I come home from work - I usually just collapse in front of the box” – Sarah X

Benefits of Rebounding

A zero-impact exercise, rebounding provides many benefits for you and your body:

• Improves circulation
• Increases the capacity of heart and lungs
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Improves co-ordination and balance
• Reduces stress and tension
• Improves muscle tone (particularly legs, thighs, hips, abdomen and arms)
• Increases energy and vitality
• Boosts the lymphatic and immune system
• Fits in with your lifestyle
• AND IS GREAT FUN!

Plus, unlike many other aerobic activities, rebounding places no strain on the joints of your body.

“I've got a rebounder, I find it's very good for me as I have a knee injury which means I can't run on the ground for any distance. I put on a good CD and bounce along. I find it's good exercise” – Alison G

Burn Rate

Depending on your weight and exertion level you'll burn between 100-280 extra calories in a 30 minute session.

*Extra calories are those you burn on top of the calories you use for basic day-to-day living. Inputting your exercise into your exercise diary will calculate the number of calories you will burn, based on your weight.

Getting Started

This is an easy exercise to start; there is no need for special instruction but it is important to use it correctly and start off slowly. Begin practising by slightly moving up and down continuously with your feet remaining in contact with the mat. Build up your times from 2-5 minute sessions to 20-30 minute sessions. Once you have perfected the art you can practise bouncing and twisting your arms at the waist, jogging and jumps.

 

The exercise can be done at your convenience and at your own pace. Put on some music, watch some TV... relax and enjoy!

Kit Bag

It's the old adage - you get what you pay for... inexpensive models can be stiff- the feel of the bounce can make a difference. There are many "rebounders" available which are manufactured to strict specifications; many models now will take a person's weight up to 22 stone (308lb). Many can be folded making them easy to store and transport anywhere.

 

As a form of exercise with so many health benefits and convenience of use it may be worth looking at an investment!

Safety

• As with most activities remember to start gently and build your stamina slowly
• Wear comfortable but not loose clothing
• Stabilizing bars can be fitted which may help if you feel unsteady

Who Can Rebound?

Men, women, old, young and in between … Rebounding is suitable for all ages and abilities.

“Having had lots of problems that has prevent me doing any exercise for years due to wheelchair etc, I have discovered the wonders of rebounding! I started in the wheelchair with my feet on it and my husband bouncing. After a week of that I was able to sit on it myself and bounce. I have now progressed to standing whilst holding on to bar and bouncing myself. It has made me feel so much better and I get better at it daily.” - Maria

Buying A Rebounder

It's the old adage - you get what you pay for... inexpensive models can be stiff and don’t offer adequate cushioning and support.

Invest in a quality rebounder, which boasts:

• A stable 6 leg design - cheaper 4 leg models are known to topple over
• Unscrewable legs – for easy storage
• A solid spring system – to ensure adequate support for your joints
• A non-slip mat – for those trickier manoeuvres!

"To all those wondering whether or not to go ahead and get one... all I can say is DO. Have just bought one and it is fantastic - mainly cos you feel so weightless when exercising rather than pounding along on the treadmill!!! It's really great - get one and try it!" – Jackie

What’s the Cost

The best rebounder we’ve found is the Reebok Rebounder. It’s a club quality rebounder in a stylish black and silver design (who said appearances don’t matter?!), and will take a person’s weight up to 18 stone. It comes complete with a workout manual, and retails at approx. £50 – the equivalent of just one month’s membership at your local gym, or 10-12 exercise classes.

Think of it as an investment. Rebounding is fun for all the family – if you’ve got kids you might have to fight to get a go! – can be done in the comfort (and privacy) of your own home, will save you transport time and costs, and fits easily around your busy lifestyle. We think this is £50 well spent.

“I bought a rebounder after reading about them on this site - my husband laughed at the idea – but now I can't get him off the thing! It's a really good fun type of exercise!” – Haze

“I've had mine for nearly 2 months now, and I use it every day ... At first, the first few minutes were hard going, … but now I easily do 20 mins while watching a favourite soap, or one of the Sky music channels. And now it's a doddle, and easy too, which suits me LOL...and best of all, I burn about 60 kcal for 20 mins!” – Sharon

Rebounding Exercises

If you feel you need a more regimented exercise routine – there are plenty of videos on YouTube or you could invest in a rebounding DVD.

“I have just bought a video called Cardio Bounce … it is really good! It is a complete workout lasting 45 mins but is split into sections: warmup, aerobics, stretching, etc. It has a section called gentle bounce for if you are not very fit as well. I can definitely recommend it! The music is a bit naff but if you complete all the sections you will really feel you have worked hard!” – Kazzie

Rebounding's an Easy Way to Get Some Exercise

“It's great in front of the telly - you can just get up and do a couple of mins during the adverts! :o) And I figured that £49 wasn't too expensive as the only other thing I needed was a decent sports bra (which I highly recommend). The Reebok one also comes with a basic sheet showing you what sort of exercises you should do, starting with very simple ones. I recommend this too - your legs build up in strength in no time and it has also done the miraculous job of reducing my bum size!” – WLR User

“I read on this site about rebounding and thought I'd give it a go. I have to say that after a few weeks, I'm impressed! I have a medical condition (fibromyalgia) which means there are lots of kinds of exercise that I can't do... but this really works for me. 5-10 minutes in front of the telly every other day or so and my legs, hips and bum are already really firming up. It seems to make me stand straighter and taller. And it's good fun too! Full marks for this one.” – WLR User

“You can even do sit ups on it which I use mine a lot for as it is far more comfortable than doing them on the floor” – Jeanie

“It's great to 'boing' away when you've got a few spare minutes or when you can't get out” – Kareb

“I have just properly started using my rebounder after finally finding an exercise video to use with it called "Cardio Bounce" and I'm loving it!” – Debs