Benefits of Rebounding for Seniors & Older Adults

Rebounding is a type of low-impact workout involving jumping on a mini-trampoline. Though trampolining is a favorite activity among children, it's actually an excellent form of exercise for older individuals. Learn more about the difference between a rebounder vs trampoline in our detailed blog.

Bouncing on a rebounder like the Lifepro JumpTrack is a safe, accessible, and enjoyable way for seniors to get daily physical activity. But the benefits of this practical workout aren't just physical—it can support mental well-being while offering a cognitive boost as well.^1,2

Read on to learn all about the many benefits of rebounding for seniors.

Physical Benefits of Rebounding

What are the physical benefits of rebounding for seniors? There are several. This type of exercise can:

Support cardiovascular health
Strengthen bones and fight osteoporosis
Build muscle strength and endurance
Enhance balance and coordination

It's also gentle on the joints. Let's explore each advantage in more detail below.

Supports Cardiovascular Health

Bouncing on a rebounder (even if you're not catching air but just moving your knees up and down) can get your heart pumping.

Right away, this improves blood circulation throughout the body. Over time, it can lower your resting heart rate (how fast your heart beats when you're not exercising)¹ and improve cardiovascular endurance, meaning you won't get winded as easily when walking short distances or up and down the stairs.²

Improved cardiovascular health through low-impact activity can lower the risk of stroke and chronic conditions like heart disease that are more common later in life.³

Strengthens Bones & Fights Osteoporosis

Like other forms of low-impact exercise, regularly using a rebounder can promote stronger bones, support bone density, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.^4,5 This is important for older individuals, who may be more prone to fractures if they fall.³

Builds Muscle Strength & Endurance

Rebounding engages major muscle groups, including the glutes, hips, legs (quads, hamstrings, and calves), and core. It also targets supporting muscles in the knees, and depending on the positioning of the upper body, this workout can improve arm and shoulder strength.⁴

Beyond promoting bone density, this helps improve muscle strength and endurance while supporting better posture and overall mobility. Building muscle through low-impact exercise can reduce the risk of injury and make it easier to do daily activities like prepare meals, shop for groceries, and tidy up the home.^4,6

Improves Balance & Coordination

As noted, regular rebounding strengthens major muscle groups (particularly in the core, glutes, and legs), promotes stronger bones, and enhances cardiovascular strength, meaning you won't get out of breath or fatigued as easily doing everyday activities.¹

This can support whole-body balance, coordination, stability, and proprioception (how the body senses its own movements and positioning). As a result, older adults can stay steadier on their feet and reduce the risk of falls—a top risk for this demographic.^7,8

All of these rebounding benefits can also be found in whole-body vibration training with vibration plates. Check out our blog to learn more about the benefits of vibration plates for the elderly.

Gentle on Joints

For older adults looking to elevate their overall fitness, it's important to find exercises that improve strength and endurance without putting extra pressure on the joints.⁹ Rebounding workouts are notably gentle on the joints.⁵

Rebounders absorb the shock of the landing from a bounce. Compared to other plyometric movements (like jumping jacks, jumping rope, or squat jumps), rebounding substantially reduces impact. This helps protect the knees, hips, and ankles and prevents the risk of fractures and other exercise-related injuries.¹⁰

Overall Health Improvements

The benefits of rebounding aren't just good for age-related health concerns and improving physical fitness in older adults. Incorporating a rebounder workout into your regular routine can offer overall health improvements.

Benefits can include:

Help with healthy weight management
Stimulate the lymphatic system
Enhance flexibility and joint lubrication

Here's what to know.

Helps With Weight Management

Simply moving your body up and down on a rebounder burns extra calories. Building lean muscle mass can also boost your metabolism, meaning your body uses more energy (calories) at rest.

By increasing your daily energy expenditure (how many calories you burn in total each day), regular rebounding workouts can help you reach or maintain a healthy body weight.² Even short daily sessions on a rebounder can add up.

Stimulates the Lymphatic System

Research has shown that the repeated low-impact motions of rebounding exercises can stimulate the lymphatic system by promoting circulation and boosting blood flow throughout the body. This can help reduce swelling and inflammation due to illness or injury.¹¹

Enhances Flexibility & Joint Lubrication

This type of workout can enhance flexibility, making it easier to reach, bend, and twist as needed to complete daily activities. The increased blood circulation and improved bone density can also help alleviate stiffness—a big perk for those with arthritis or osteoporosis.⁹

Mental & Cognitive Benefits of Rebounding

Rebounding can also do wonders for mental health and cognitive ability,

This type of exercise can:

Boost mood and reduce stress
Improve brain function and mental clarity
Encourage a positive mindset toward exercise

Let's take a closer look at these benefits, including why they're so crucial for seniors and older adults.

Boosts Mood & Reduces Stress

Exercising, in general, can offer an immediate mood boost while helping reduce stress. Increasing your heart rate and getting your blood pumping can combat feelings of anxiousness. Over time, it might help prevent mental health conditions like anxiety or depression and promote overall well-being.⁹

Improves Brain Function & Mental Clarity

Rebounding increases blood flow to the brain. This may help improve memory, concentration, and focus and potentially lower the risk of dementia.ysup>6,3

Encourages a Positive Mindset Toward Exercise

The fun, playful nature of rebounding can encourage a positive mindset about exercise, making older adults (or users of any age) more likely to stick with it. The fact that it's easy, simple, and low-impact can also help people keep up with a consistent workout routine—consistency is key with physical fitness.

Practical Advantages of Rebounding

There are also practical advantages to rebounding. A rebounder is:

Safe and senior-friendly
Compact and space-efficient
Seasonless workout option
Time-efficient

Keep reading for details.

Safe & Senior-Friendly Design

Lifepro's JumpTrack rebounders boast safe, senior-friendly designs. This includes an innovative bungee system that offers a smoother bounce than traditional metal springs while preventing the risk of pinching.

Additionally, they have non-slip feet to minimize sliding or shifting on the floor with each bounce, plus a support post with an attached handlebar. The low-profile height also makes it easy for people with mobility issues to step onto the jumping mat.

Compact & Space-Efficient

Our rebounders are compact and space-efficient. The small footprint makes them ideal for indoor use and spaces low on square footage, like apartments and assisted living facilities.

What's more, they're foldable and portable, so you can tuck your mini-trampoline away when it's not in use, easily move it from room to room, and even take it on the go.

Seasonless Workout Option

Unpredictable weather can make it tricky to stick to an exercise routine. But with a rebounder, you'll have a seasonless workout option you can do inside your home, no matter the outdoor temperature or forecast.

Time-Efficient

Jumping on a mini-trampoline is also a time-efficient workout. Just 10 to 15 minutes of rebounding a day can offer measurable health benefits—from supporting weight management and improving cognitive function to increasing strength and reducing the risk of injuries.

Safety Guidelines for Rebounding: Tips for Seniors

While rebounding offers incredible benefits, it's important to approach it with care. Here are some safety guidelines to help seniors get the most out of their workout while minimizing risk.

Start Slow and Build Up Gradually

If you’re new to rebounding or haven't been active for a while, start with gentle bouncing. Begin by simply stepping on and off the rebounder to get used to the movement. As you gain confidence and strength, you can increase the intensity, but always listen to your body.

Wear Comfortable, Supportive Clothing

Rebounding can be a full-body workout, so wear clothing that allows freedom of movement. Comfortable, moisture-wicking fabrics will help keep you dry, and supportive footwear is essential to ensure stability and prevent injuries.

Use the Handlebar for Added Support

For those who feel a bit wobbly or have concerns about their balance, using a rebounder with a handlebar can provide extra support. It helps you maintain stability as you progress in your workouts.

Warm Up and Cool Down

Just like any exercise routine, warming up and cooling down is essential for preventing injury. A few minutes of light walking or stretching before and after rebounding can help prepare your muscles and joints for the activity.

Bounce Into Better Health With the Lifepro JumpTrack Rebounder

Lifepro's JumpTrack Pro and JumpTrack Lite rebounders can help seniors and adults of all ages improve their physical fitness and reap all the other benefits of exercise from the comfort of their own home.

These thoughtfully designed contraptions are safe, easy to use, and conveniently portable, delivering a fun, full-body workout for folks of any age or fitness level. By combining gravity with acceleration and deceleration while absorbing shock, our rebounders offer a low-impact exercise for improved muscle strength, better cardiovascular endurance, enhanced bone density, better balance, increased circulation, and even mental health benefits.

Bounce your way to better health with a Lifepro JumpTrack rebounder, and have peace of mind knowing it's backed by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 customer support.

Want to learn more? Our guide covers the benefits and differences of a vibration plate vs rebounder.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. The Many Health Benefits of Exercising on a Trampoline. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/trampoline-workout-benefits
Journal of Education Health and Sport. Springing to Life: Unveiling the Transformative Effects of Trampoline Bouncing on Human Health. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377582938
Sports Medicine-Open. Effect of Low-intensity Exercise on Physical and Cognitive Health in Older Adults: a Systematic Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4612316/
Clinical Interventions in Aging. Effectiveness of a Mini-Trampoline Training Program on Balance and Functional Mobility, Gait Performance, Strength, Fear of Falling and Bone Mineral Density in Older Women with Osteopenia. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6929928/
Cureus. Rebound Exercises in Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11296216/
National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS). Bounce Your Way to Better Health: The Benefits of Rebounding for Senior Citizens. https://wellness.nifs.org/blog/bounce-your-way-to-better-health-the-benefits-of-rebounding-for-senior-citizens
National Council on Aging (NCOA). The Life-Changing Benefits of Exercise After 60. https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-life-changing-benefits-of-exercise-after-60/
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Impact of physical activity programs and services for older adults: a rapid review. https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-022-01318-9
Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging. International Exercise Recommendations in Older Adults (ICFSR): Expert Consensus Guidelines. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770723007881
Journal of Physical Therapy Science. Does trampoline or hard surface jumping influence lower extremity alignment?. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5890218/
Indian Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. A study to assess the effectiveness of rebounding exercise on lymphedema: Shailendra Mehta. https://ijptr.net/a-study-to-assess-the-effectiveness-of-rebounding-exercise-on-lymphedema-shailendra-mehta/
Libyan Journal of Medicine. The effect of rebound exercise on cognition and balance of females with overweight and obesity.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19932820.2024.2438513?src=exp-la

Benefits of Rebounding for Seniors & Older Adults