Rebounders are often called “mini-trampolines”. Most but not all rebounders are round, and consist of the following parts:
6 legs between 8 and 14” long
A durable mat with an elastic nature
An elastic element such as spring or bungee bands
A round elevated rim which the legs support and which is attached to the mat by the elastic element, either springs or bungee bands
Since their introduction, many improvements have been made to the quality and construction of rebounders. Spring size, shape, and durability have improved greatly over time, and in the last several years springs have been replaced entirely in certain high-end units by bungee-bands, which are quieter and may also offer certain advantages in terms of smoothness and user experience. Units with folding legs, and units whose entire body (including the mat and the rim) folds in half, or even in quarters, have been introduced.
Rebound exercise begins as soon as someone steps on a rebounder and begins to move their body. It can be highly aerobic — full-on sprints and interval training are ideal on a rebounder, because it does not jar the physical body anywhere near as much as does hard ground — or it can be very slow and gentle, with only a gentle rocking taking place.
Just as rebounders have evolved from poorly made spring-based units to modern spring-based units and high-end bungee-based units, the types of exercise and movement done on rebounders has evolved as well.
There is the “health bounce” (a gentle rocking motion that anyone in any state of health can do, which stimulates the immune system), an “aerobic bounce” that involves elevating the heart rate (either running in place or dancing), and the “strength bounce,” which involves higher bouncing with both feet leaving the mat (leading to both abdominal and lower body strength) directly as well as to the strengthening of all bodily cells through the accelerative force applied.
There are five main organizing themes or perspectives with respect to what is claimed to be special about the health and fitness benefits of rebound exercise:
Strengthened Cells: All of the body’s cells are said to be strengthened through the mechanics of rebounding, either because of gravity changes or because of pressure differentials (along with more oxygen reaching cells throughout the body);
Increased Lymph Flow & Immune System Function: Rebounding is said to lead to greatly increased lymph fluid circulation, leading directly to a boosted immune system, greater white blood cell activity, and increased detoxification generally;
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Improvement: Rebounding is said to directly yield impressive aerobic exercise benefits in terms of heart strength and functioning, respiration, and related physiological functions; and
Physical Strength, Muscular Development, Coordination, Balance, and Flexibility: Rebounding is often said to improve all of these.
Low Impact, Less Strain on Joints, Soft Tissue, Skeleton: The elastic element of a rebounder, either springs or bungee bands, absorbs much of the impact or shock on each bounce, thereby making rebound exercise more attractive to those who need to avoid shocking or straining their joints, soft tissue, and skeleton.
Rebounding is said to assist dozens of specific medical conditions—from arthritis to vision improvement. It is a recommended form of exercise for cancer patients.
