Rebounding For Health, Lymphedema and More

I just have to cover this exercise because the benefits are invaluable to all of us. Rebounding (that small personal trampoline) has phenomenal benefits. We first learned of the effects of rebounding compressions during our cancer exercise specialist certification – and it stuck. The amazing part is that you can start with 2 minutes of small compressions on the rebounder 1 -2 times a day and work yourself up to more time – and you will because it is easy, it is fun, it is convenient and you will see results. Enough said?! 

Believe me, as a personal trainer, I have heard every excuse ‘not to’ exercise and trust me I have heard myself say a few as well. It doesn’t matter what your excuse of the day is – just do something. Exercise is not fun – sports are fun – that’s recreation – exercise just has to be done it is that simple – it is like brushing your teeth - just do it.

Regarding the mini trampoline and the lymphatic system – there are articles galore out there in cyberspace however I am citing from the Better Health Update by Monte Cline, Clinical Nutritionist. 

Lymphatic Cleansing Effect 

To me, nothing is more important about rebound exercise than the unique way it affects the lymphatic system. Most people don’t know a lot about their lymphatic system, since our education and media is obsessed with our other circulatory system—the cardiovascular system. The lymphatic system is a second circulatory system that relates primarily to immune response and drainage. The lymph is a clear fluid containing T- and B-Lymphocytes. Dr. Morton Walker, in his book, “Jumping for Health”, describes the lymph system as the: 

“…metabolic garbage can of the body. It rids you of toxins, such as dead and cancerous cells, nitrogenous wastes, fat, infectious viruses, heavy metals, and other material cast off by the cells.”  

I like to think of it as the “storm sewer” system of the body, while the digestive tract is the regular sewer system. 

Lymph is moved by hydraulic action. The lymph vessels are full of one–way valves that open up only in the direction of the heart. When the pressure below a valve is greater than above (such as when you’re moving downward on your bounce on the rebounder), the valve is pushed open to allow the lymph to flow. 

The main distinguishing point between the lymphatic system and the cardiovascular system is that the former has no heart—no pump. So how does the lymph fluid move through this system? There are three ways to move the lymph:

1. Muscular contraction from exercise and movement
2. Gravitational pressure on the lymph vessels
3. Internal massage of the lymph vessel valves  

When we move the muscular contraction squeezes the lymph vessels, moving the lymph along. Walking and almost all exercise have this effect. But rebound exercise stimulates all three of the above, perhaps better than any other single exercise. 

The most common health problem of our world is about cleansing congestion from the lymphatic system. It’s called the common cold. Few people understand that a “cold” is a lymphatic cleansing reaction. Anything we can do to keep the lymph moving better helps prevent colds or assist in healing them. The worst thing you can do for a cold is what most people do—take decongestant drugs to“dry up” the lymphatic drainage …and thus thwart the lymphatic cleansing process! 

Arthritis Effects 

Foreign substances entering our joints provokes an immune system response by lymphocyte white blood cells to clean up the toxins involved. But what if those toxins aren’t drained from the joint by the lymphatic system? What if they just get caught in the joint cavity? Then the synovial cavity lining surrounding the joint is damaged. 

The joints actually do have a “drain plug” in the form of lymphatic vessels to eliminate the toxins. But for that lymph drainage to work, the lymph must be flowing. You need movement—exercise—and the best exercise for stimulating that lymph flow is rebounding. 

Today, rebounders are even made with a sturdy handle bar they cost from $45 – 300 – for the purpose we are using them I have purchased the $45 model which has held up very well. After becoming very comfortable on the rebounder you will begin to spend more time on it – you can jog in place on it and even jump around a bit – it can be fun trying different experiences. 

Further reading: 

How to Unleash Lymphatic Toxins Through Rebounding  

Benefits of a Trampoline Workout, What Muscles is Best to Exercise in Trampolining 

Why does the lymphatic system benefit from rebounding? 

Lymphedema can happen at any time - my own mother had her first flare up 10 years after her surgery - be mindful of your body and take the best care of it today! At our Strength for Life classes we are mindful of the risk of lymphedema and alternate upper body exercises with lower body exercises to further reduce the risk of a flare up. 

"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it." ~Samuel Johnson