Many people might look at someone bouncing on a trampoline
and wonder what all the excitement is about. But the truth
is, trampolines are great for physical fitness of children
and adults, as well as for influencing other things such as
balance.

Trampolines are used regularly by athletes who skate,
dance, dive, or do gymnastics. That's because bouncing on
a trampoline takes more than just the effort of jumping up
and down. It takes coordination to achieve consistent
height, balanced landings, and the ability to perform
complex maneuvers without injury.

These athletes learn to hone skills important to their own
sports, by using the mechanics of the trampoline. This can
include techniques like turns, flips, and splits.

Children who learn how to use a trampoline properly, gain a
new sense of freedom, and the thrill of soaring into the
air. A few lessons can go a long way towards giving them a
sense of achievement and self-confidence, especially if
they have tried other, more difficult sports and not been
successful.

Adults can benefit from either full size trampolines, or
the smaller ones known as "rebounders", designed to be used
in the home. Not only does the gentle activity of bouncing
on a trampoline strengthen voluntary and involuntary
muscles, it helps bones to become stronger, and stay
denser.

The aerobic activity involved strengthens the heart, and
provides you with many of the same benefits as jogging,
with less stress on weight bearing joints.

The "G" force, or effects of gravity in jogging, can
actually increase the impact on your feet, to a value that
is equivalent to four times your body weight. Using a
trampoline can reduce that stress by 80%, providing a safe,
effective way to exercise for older adults, and those with
certain physical challenges.

About the Author
Paul Johnson works as a software developer, often working
long hours under great stress. He considers exercise
crucial to his health. When purchasing his own fintess
equipment he researched all available products. Now he's
written a series of useful articles on choosing (and using)
exercise equipment.