When I first heard about rebounding for cancer, I thought it was a complete joke. How could jumping on a mini-trampoline help me with my cancer diagnosis? Is it even scientific that rebounders help with cancer at all? The science behind rebounding exercise is both interesting and convincing.

When I first wrote this post back in February of 2011, I was barely past my cancer diagnosis. It is amazing to be here 15 years later as a family of eight and have so much perspective! I am so grateful for my rebounder and we have tons of fun on it daily. I still highly recommend the Cellerciser because I have now seen how it has held up and of course, being cancer free, I wonder its role in supporting my immune system over the years.

A Little Bit About the Immune System

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a lymphatic cancer which means it affects the lymph system, a large part of the immune system. The lymphatic system is part of the body’s immune defense network that fights off infections, parasites, and abnormal cell growth like cancer. As long as it is functioning in peak condition it will filter out toxins and bodily invaders as it was designed to do. However, if the lymphatic system is burdened by a poor diet, lack of exercise, lingering viruses, and excess toxins, it cannot eliminate and the body begins to show symptoms of disease and other health problems.

Unlike many of the other systems in the body, the lymph system does not have a pump to transport its fluid. Instead, it relies on physical exercise to move lymph fluid throughout the body. The more stagnant we are, the weaker our immune systems become. This is yet another reason why doctors and health experts stress the importance of exercise. It’s not just all about weight loss. This is where rebounding comes into play.

Rebounding is a fun, and HIGHLY effective form of exercise. You are essentially weightless at the top of each jump (allowing your cells to decompress) and then land with twice the force of gravity on each bounce (causing your cells to compress). This is a key point.  Instead of lifting weight away FROM gravity to exercise the cells in a single muscle group, rebounding increases the weight OF gravity, thereby exercising ALL of your body’s cells SIMULTANEOUSLY!  In addition, this accelerated/decelerated bounce has MANY health benefits, including allowing the valves in your lymph system to open and close simultaneously (see image below,) thus optimizing the flow of lymph fluid.

Science Supporting Rebounders

Researchers at the University of Kentucky, in conjunction with NASA (link to study), concluded that “the magnitude of the biomechanical stimuli is greater with jumping on a trampoline than with running.” More simply put, jumping on a rebounder flexes and massages every cell in your body without added joint pressure and  does it more effectively than more popular exercises.  (And no, you don’t have to jump as high as I like to for it to work! – A simple “health-bounce” of a few inches up and down will increase circulation and flush your entire lymphatic system within a couple minutes!)

Additional benefits of rebounding include:

• Increases cardiovascular fitness
• Greater balance and agility
• Improves circulation and blood pressure
• Reverse hardening of arteries
• Detoxify liver
• Improves digestion and elimination
• Lower elevated cholesterol & triglyceride levels

Springs vs. Bungee Rebounders

I like my rebounder with springs over those with bungees or bands which you will see on many other brands of rebounders. The bounce is different with bands and they can wear out over time vs. good quality spring rebounders.

There are several companies that make quality rebounders and they can come in different heights and styles. Some are designed to function more smoothly, others to be easier on joints, and some are easier to store and travel with it. The brand my husband Kevin researched and bought for me has all of the above, plus it is engineered to last a lifetime. It’s called the Cellerciser (cute name, given the cellular benefits of using it).

Of course, when I found out how much it was I flipped out, but the hubs had researched extensively. Amongst the quality, well-made rebounders available, its price is comparable. Now that we have had it for 13 years, I can attest that it is top notch and it has truly helped me. I have used it in pregnancy, while sick, and all of my children have used it for fun.

I encourage you to do your own research to find a quality rebounder worth investing in. There are rebounders on Amazon that are more affordable but may not hold up AND may not be as supportive of your spine and joints. Be careful not to compromise safety for price. The harsh impact from a cheap rebounder can have long term consequences for your joints and especially your spine. Here’s one reviewer’s video that demonstrates this (btw, they don’t mention any brand names, but see if you can recognize the rebounder of choice the girl picks at the end…). I like to think of it as buying a piece of REALLY AWESOME exercise equipment.

Nowadays I put my headphones on and bounce on our Cellerciser for a few minutes to an hour some days. I also like to use light weights or fitness bands to add some extra resistance for my upper body as I bounce.  Update 2022: I’ve been posting some of my rebounding videos on my Instagram lately.

You can grab your own Cellerciser HERE. (this is my affiliate link to the exact rebounder I own.)

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The post DETOX: Do Rebounders Help With Cancer? appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.