Is Rebounding Bad For Knees?

Do you suffer from sharp pains in your knees as your feet smash into the ground while you exercise? The higher the impact the more your knees endure. Exercising on a rebounder is a popular low impact option for those who have joint problems.

But is the rebounder bad for your knees? Rebounding is not bad for your knees, its actually a great way to strengthen the knees and muscles around them. Making it suitable for people who suffer from knee or joint problems. The rebounders soft impact make it an ideal for seniors those with knee issues looking to lead a more active lifestyle.

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Exercising on the best rebounders is joint friendly. It’s ability to limit your jumping height combined with the elasticity of the mat makes it a safe exercise if you have knee problems. Let’s take a deeper look at how this low impact exercise option could be the option for you.

Rebounding Good for Joints

High impact activity can be your knees worst nightmare. The pressure and jarring endured on the knee when performing high impact physical activity such as running.

This consistent pounding on the knee can result in various problems such as inflammation of the ligament and tendons within the knee, known as bursitis. Jumping on a rebounder is a safe, low impact alternative that is suitable for someone with bad knees.

Are Rebounders Good for Bad Knees

Rebounders are good for bad knees as they absorb the impact of the movement.

Primarily the movement of jumping up and down on the rebounder is very easy on your knee and ankle joints. A published NASA study reported that the G-force absorbed on the ankle and knee when running is double what the back of the head experiences.

In comparison to a rebounder the G-force is identical for the back of the head and the ankle which makes this exercise so efficient. The entire body absorbs the impact rather than putting all the pressure on the knees.

In the same study it was confirmed that when rebounding the body can get up to 68% more benefit compared to running. Your body doesn’t feel as exhausted at the same workload.

Knee Pain and Risks

Like any exercises, there are risks to consider with rebounding. Any exercise with repetitive bouncing or jumping on hard surfaces can lead to arthritis or inflammation.

But the good thing with rebounding is that it’s not a hard surface, the mat takes the force out of the exercise making it a great option for preventing and easing knee pain. But be careful on landing, do not jump off the rebounder, always step off.

Check out this interesting video on how to relieve knee pain using a rebounder

If you suffer from joint pain or chronic knee pain consult a doctor before conducting any exercise. You don’t want to force an activity that aggravates any existing problems, but rebounding is a perfectly safe, low impact option to try.

If you have been cleared to use your rebounder and are still concerned you can take extra precaution by applying knee straps:

It’s important to wear the correct footwear, such as athletic shoes. These provide extra cushioning and stability that absorb impact.

When starting rebounding, start at a low intensity to familiarise your joints and muscles with the exercise. Don’t over exert, limit the workouts to 20 minutes and increase as you progress.

Perhaps one knee related issue you may face with rebounding is hyperextension. A hyperextended knee occurs when you accidentally twist you knee against its own natural elastic movement.

When you hyperextend you knee you will see visible swelling and your movement will be reduced, this can be caused if you land awkwardly on your rebounder. Typically this will only last a few days.

Avoid this happening by having a good quality rebounder mat. A rebounder mat can be placed underneath, adding more stability and cushioning. You can check it by clicking below:

Is Rebounding Good for Arthritic Knees

Rebounding with arthritis is manageable as this type of activity lubricates the joints which reduces the stiffness and pain associated with the disease

Although you should exercise with caution. If you jump too fast or high it has the potential to harm an already damaged joint. Always check with your doctor or physical therapist if rebounding is safe for you, as it can vary from person to person.

If you are cleared to perform the exercise and it feels comfortable. You can start with simply walking on your mini trampoline for a few minutes at a time. As you build up familiarity with the movement you can start to gently bounce or jog on the spot. This will not only strengthen the knees but also improve balance.

Are Mini Trampolines Good for Knees

Any activity that involves excessive flexing, pivots or stop starts tend to be the hardest on the knees. Jumping exercises can be tough on the knee joint, on an ordinary hard surface jumping places a force of two to three times your body weight on your knee. Trampolines absorb the full impact meaning it doesn’t cause any damage to your knees.