10 Bounce-tastic Fun Facts About Trampolines You Never Knew!
1. WWII Pilots & Astronaut Training
Before pilots were soaring through the skies and astronauts were bouncing around in zero-gravity like a game of celestial ping-pong: trampolines were used for training during World War II, helping pilots acclimate to changing surroundings, and later incorporated into NASA's space training program to develop exercises like Spaceball, improving coordination and reflexes in weightless environments.
Source => smithsonianmag.com
2. Trampoline vs. Jogging
Who knew a giant, springy pancake could replace a jog in the park? Well, step aside, Forrest Gump: a NASA study reveals that rebounding on a trampoline is actually 68% more effective for cardiovascular health than traditional jogging, with just 10 minutes of bouncing providing a better workout than 33 minutes of running. Plus, it's easy on the joints, tones muscles, and sends stress and anxiety bouncing away like an astronaut on a moonwalk mission!
Source => skyjumpertrampoline.com
Did you know gymnastics started as a military training exercise in ancient Greece? Discover the incredible journey from soldiers' workouts to breathtaking global competitions on vaults, beams, and bars. π€ΈββοΈπͺπ
=> Fun Facts about Gymnastics
3. Air Manuever Orientation
If pilots had a band, they'd surely call it "Bouncing in the Sky": During World War II, the military used trampolines to train pilots in improving their orientation skills after performing challenging air maneuvers, a practice that astronaut Scott Carpenter later carried into space training, even inventing a game called Spaceball to condition for space travel.
Source => smithsonianmag.com
4. Bouncetastic Cardio
If you're hankering for a hippity-hop way to ditch traditional cardio and make it more bouncetastic: Behold the power of trampolines! A study by the American Council on Exercise found that rebound exercise can burn the same amount of calories in just 20 minutes as 30 minutes of jogging, and participants even felt it to be 10% less strenuous, making it a high-flying, low-impact workout.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
5. Lymphatic Limbo
If bouncing on a trampoline were the latest dance craze, we'd be 'springing' into action, launching our health to new heights, and becoming masters of the "lymphatic limbo"! Behold the trampol-ific benefits: trampoline workouts, known as rebounding, activate the lymphatic system, helping to flush toxins and support overall health, including bone density, heart health, and weight loss.
Source => thecancerspecialist.com
6. Bouncy Stroke Recovery
Bouncing back from a stroke just got bouncier: Modified trampoline training has been proven in a study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science to effectively improve balance, dynamic gait, and falls efficacy for stroke patients. These trampoline-based rehab sessions have proven to be a stroke of genius, as they stimulate proprioception and enhance one's ability to balance on the road to a more balanced recovery.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
7. Trampoline History & Olympics
Before astronauts and acrobats could boldly bounce where no man has bounced before, it dawned on George Nissen and Larry Griswold that the realm between gravity and grace needed some jumping jacks to the rescue: Trampolines leaped into existence in the 1930s at the University of Iowa as a training tool, eventually springing up new games like Spaceball, and evolving into the high-flying Olympic sport of trampoline gymnastics, where athletes perform mind-bending twists and somersaults 8 meters above the ground.
Source => olympics.com
8. World Record Team Bounce
In a gravity-defying leap that would surely have Isaac Newton spinning in his grave: On April 8, 2014, Sean Kennedy and T.J. Kennedy - the trampoline bouncing duo from the USA - reached new heights with a team bounce of a whopping 6.73 m (22 ft 1 in) on the set of NBC's "Today" in New York, breaking their own world record set the previous year.
Source => guinnessworldrecords.com
9. Bladder-Control Superhero
Bouncing back from embarrassment? Look no further, my bladder-befuddled friends: A mere few minutes of pelvic floor rebounding on a mini trampoline daily can strengthen your weak pelvic floor muscles, reducing stress incontinence, and giving you the bladder control of a superhero! Plus, ten minutes on the trampoline equals 30 minutes of jogging, making it the ultimate timesaver for your fitness routine.
Source => boogiebounce.com
10. Endorphin-Popping Fun
Bouncing on a trampoline, the human equivalent of popping bubble wrap and flinging oneself into the air like an excitable grasshopper: it turns out, this jubilant activity releases mood-boosting endorphins, improving cardiovascular fitness, sleep quality, and reducing stress levels, while also combating depression and anxiety.
Source => winnipeg.funparkcanada.ca