I first learned about rebound exercise right after my breast cancer diagnosis. I spoke with a counselor at the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education (CACE) and she told me to get a rebounder right away. She explained that I would need it to help my immune system and lymphatic system after surgery and throughout my treatment. She explained to me that bouncing on a rebounder would help give me energy when I need it and it she also explained how it exercises all of the trillions of cells in the body at the same time. I listened to her and purchased a rebounder.

If you’re unsure what a rebounder is, it’s basically a mini trampoline, but of much better quality (I discuss more details below). It provides exercise on a cellular level.

Whether you’ve been injured in an accident, been diagnosed with an illness, or just want to take a new step toward health and fitness, rebounding allows you to overcome challenges and helps to maintain your health.

The American Institute of Reboundology has been around for over 28 years and has studied how rebound exercise affects the human body and all of its functions.  Rebounding is the simplest, most effective method to regain and maintain natural health and fitness.

NASA has stated that rebounding is the best exercise ever devised by man. Ten minutes a day is all you need for a whole body cellular health and fitness program and only 2 minutes a day for a great boost to your immune system.

Not only is rebounding gentler on your joints, but it also burns more calories, and burns them much faster than any other exercise. Twenty minutes on the rebounder is like one hour on the treadmill. Medical professionals from the American Institute of Bariatric Physicians conducted a study and ascertained that rebounding burns 11 times more calories than walking, 5 times more calories than swimming, and 3 times more calories than running.

Why? Well, because rebounding uses acceleration, deceleration and gravity all on the same vertical plane. When you accelerate, like hitting the gas in a car, your body is being forced back. When you decelerate, like hitting the brakes in a car, your body is forced forward. Because of these forces, acceleration, deceleration and gravity, your weight doubles at the bottom of the bounce.

According to Albert Einstein, your body recognizes these forces and adapts, but can’t tell the difference between these natural forces. To use these 3 forces most effectively, they need to be lined up vertically on the same plane. No other exercise except for rebounding fits in this definition, making rebounding one of the best exercises you can do to burn more calories and produce a stronger, healthier, more efficient body.

Bouncing up and down on a rebounder (known as the “Health Bounce”) is beneficial for everyone in that it is the most effective way to stimulate and detoxify the lymphatic system and boost your immune system.  Why is it important to stimulate and detoxify your lymphatic system?  Well, think of your body as an intricate plumbing system where fluids must continually flow.  Rebounding stimulates the plumbing system (the millions of one-way valves in the lymphatic system) to ensure the elimination of toxins in your body and allowing critical nutrients to be brought to your entire body.

Many proponents of rebounding say that it rejuvenates the body, gives you energy and makes you look younger.

You may be surprised at the number of exercises you can do on a rebounder to help tone your muscles as well. Rebounding is also said to be a “cellulite buster.” Rebounding is known to strengthen every cell, vein, joint, capillary, organ and bone, as well as skin and tissue. It also reduces body fat. It is recommended that you rebound with bare feet or no-slip socks, as the bouncing works reflexology points in your feet.

Other benefits of rebounding:

• Rebounding adds to the body’s alkaline reserves which is excellent news since cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment!
• Improves resting metabolic rate, burning more calories for hours after exercising.
• Provides increased G-force that strengthens the musculoskeletal system.
• Protects your joints from fatigue caused by impact to hard surfaces.
• Can curtail menstrual discomfort for women.
• Circulates more oxygen to your body’s tissues and promotes tissue repair.
• Increases respiration capacity.
• Assists in the rehabilitation of heart problems.
• Increases the functional production of red blood cells.
• Lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
• Enhances the processes of digestion and elimination.
• It can be portable - you can even do it at work!
• It’s FUN!

Kids can also benefit from rebounding in the same ways. Additionally, similar benefits can be garnered while bouncing on one of those “bouncing balls” that kids sit on that has a handle so they can bounce all around the house (see the one my kids have on the right) – my kids love theirs and they use them every day.

If you decide to give rebounding a try, you must make sure that you use a quality rebounder. Make sure it’s safe:

• has stitching strong enough to support your weight;
• springs should be designed to adjust to your weight to give you the perfect bounce;
• the mat should be made of permatron, a material that always maintains its original shape, yet is soft enough to get optimal results for your lymphatic system.

Inexpensive models are usually smaller and not as stable and the bounce is less pleasant. I have heard a couple of stories about individuals using a cheap “mini-trampoline”, one that you get from the sporting goods store, and experiencing severe injuries when using it to exercise, so make sure if you get one you do your research and buy quality.

You don’t have to spend a fortune; I bought mine online for around $130 from ReboundAIR, one of the best quality rebounders there is (I have no affiliation with ReboundAIR, nor do I receive any compensation for referring buyers, I just think their rebounders are the best and would recommend them to anyone.) You can also buy ones that fold in half as well as quarter-folding ones for ease of storage or travel. Other very good brands include Needak and Urban Rebounder.

Take the time to be healthy and have fun rebounding!