From the June 2003 Idaho Observer:

The Miracles of Rebound Exercise

by Greg Pappas

After severly injuring my neck and back two years ago in a sledding accident, my chiropractor was able to manipulate my back into alignment, but my muscles were unable to hold the adjustment for more that a few hours. I needed a way to strengthen my muscles without causing any more injury or pain.

A friend of mine suggested that I bounce on a mini-trampoline known as a rebounder. The first mini-trampoline-like product that I purchased was 38 inches in diameter and about 8 inches tall with constant rate steel springs. Though the light bouncing I did gave me some newly developed muscles in my neck and back, I still experienced strain and pain in my feet, ankles, shins, knees, hips and lower back. I knew there was probably a better rebounder out there somewhere. Then I discovered the ReboundAIR “Soft-Bounce” Rebounder by the originator and pioneer of Rebound exercise: Albert Earl Carter.

Once I began bouncing and running daily on the ReboundAIR, starting with several sessions of a few minutes each, my neck and back muscles responded by rapidly getting stronger. I no longer needed to visit my chiropractor three to four times a week. Instead I saw him once a week, and then once every two weeks, until once a month was all I needed.

At age 47, I am in the same physical condition I was when I was in my mid 20s and running three miles three times a week and working out with weights three times a week. The problem with extensive running is that it eventually causes injury due to wear and tear on the weight bearing joints. Rebounding provides us with a superior form of excercise without the risk of these injuries.

The concept of rebounding can best be experienced in a similar way when standing up and moving up and down on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your shoulders next to the base of your neck and feel the muscles expand and contract with your movement. Now just imagine that same sensation while bouncing on a ReboundAIR. Every cell in your body will be excercising at the same time without any pain or injury from the excercise.

Calisthenics, weight lifting and jogging exercise only specific parts of the body at a time by isolating muscle groups and providing an exercise designed for that particular muscle group. But the most amazing aspect of rebounding versus other forms of exercise is the resulting cleansing and strengthening of the entire lymphatic system. According to Dr. C. Samuel West, “rebounding is the best way to circulate the lymphatics. If the lymphatic system is circulating properly, it is practically impossible to get sick.”

The reason for this is that the condition of both our bloodstream and lymphatic system are the barometer of our health. But while 12 percent of our total bodily fluids is blood, our lymph fluid comprises 36 percent of our total body fluids. Is it any wonder then that the lymphatic system has been referred to as our immune system? A veteran naturapathic doctor recently told me that the functioning of the lymphatic system is crititical in the healing of the body and that he did not know of another way of cleansing the lymphatic system better than rebound excercise.

Rebounding is the right exercise for everone of all ages from 1 to 100 because utilizing what is known as the “Health Bounce,” a light bounce with or without a bar will stimulate the entire body to strengthen and heal. Consider the case of 83 year old Eunice who was bedridden. She always felt tired, drained and fairly useless to her family. Her daughter bought a RebounderAIR. With a little coaxing, Eunice sat down on the rebounder while her 79 yr. old husband, Bud, proceeded to bounce behind her. This took place several times a day. After only four days, Eunice was up and around, puttering in the kitchen. She no longer needed to sit on the rebounder and have someone else do the bouncing. She was now bouncing on her own several times a day. Within only eight days, Eunice was laughing and working around the kitchen, sweeping floors, joking with her husband and enjoying life once again.

My own 86-year-old father purchased a rebounder and began enjoying the benefits of the Health Bounce with a Balancing Bar on the Ultimate Rebound in September of 2002. He began immediately to experience the strengthening of his neck, back and leg muscles while reducing his waste line by several inches. His bowel transit time also increased from one bowel movement daily to one for each 10 to 15 minute session of rebounding. He now rebounds 5 times a day.

The positive health benefits derived from rebounding are innumerable. Many problems such as balance or vestibular dysfunction due to lack of fluid movement within the inner ear can be improved by rebounding. Vision degeneration that is often caused by incorrect nutritional intake and lack of bodily movement, can be reversed by rebounding when combined with a properly planned and consistently implemented dietary program. One's memory will also benefit from rebounding as our brain receives increased blood flow. Wherever your body is weak, rebounding will strengthen that area and help bring you into greater physical balance.

My entire family rebounds daily. My four children have benefitted from rebounding with results of overall improved health and memory, and greater physical agility. My wife, who has been battling some serious health issues, has experienced strong lymphatic cleansing while rebounding and now rebounds several times each day as part of her doctor's approved therapy.

Look for a rebounder that is 40 inches in diameter and stands 10 inches tall with a Permatron mat (one that does not stretch like vinyl), and 36 high resilience and soft bounce springs in order to achieve optimal injury free rebounding. Purchasing a high quality rebounder can make all the difference in both the enjoyment of your new exercise program and the resultant health benefits.

Some of the information contained in this article is from the book, The New Miracles of REBOUND EXERCISE by Albert E. Carter. You can visit his website at www.Rebound-Aerobics.com

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Greg Pappas is a distributor of the complete line of ReboundAir products and may be contacted at e-mail: gptruth@earthlink.net or by telephone at (208) 762-2442.