Vertical Motion

Our first experience of bouncing occurs in our mother's womb. We continue bouncing in our parents' arms. Bouncing, or vertical motion, is necessary for developing health and strength in infants. This vertical motion continues to benefit us during all stages of life.

To understand how this gentle vertical motion is so beneficial to our health, consider the forces of gravity and movement. Albert Einstein proposed that when the forces of acceleration and deceleration are aligned in the same plane as gravity, the cells of the human body feel all three forces as if they are each like gravity. The magic is that our body already knows how to adapt to an increased force of gravity cells become stronger.

Primary Benefit Cellular Building

Buoyant non-impact vertical motion on a rebounder, which looks like a small trampoline, strengthens every cell in the body equally and simultaneously while protecting the weight-bearing joints. The vertical forces of acceleration and deceleration aligned with gravity create a loaded force, weight, or resistance on every cell at the bottom of the down bounce, stimulating all cells to become stronger by adaptation.

This effect is exerted upon each individual cell of each bodily system (digestive, eliminative, circulatory, lymphatic, endocrine/hormonal) and upon each individual cell of muscles, bones, blood, veins and arteries, eye and ear components, and vital internal organs even the brain. This cellular strengthening restores coordination and balance; improves core stability and strength of abdominals and lower back; strengthens the sphincter muscle (for bladder control); improves posture; tones skin and facial muscles; and increases bone density.

Secondary Benefit Lymphatic Cleansing

During two minutes of "low-bouncing", the gentle, buoyant vertical movement flushes the entire lymphatic system and triples the number of white blood cells.

The effect is caused by the change in gravitational pull at the top of the bounce which causes all the one-way lymph valves to open and close like pistons in an engine, thus allowing the lymph to be forcefully flushed. (Unlike blood, which is pumped by the heart, lymph fluid is pumped only by movement.) At the bottom of the bounce, toxins are forced out of the cells, and as pressure changes on the upward bounce, toxins enter the lymph veins to be pumped to the liver and kidneys to be further filtered and expelled.

This forceful flushing during vertical motion increases the demand for, and triples the army of, white blood cells that work to clear abnormal cells, internal debris, and toxins from the body. The effect lasts for about one hour before reverting to former levels.

According to Arthur Guyton, author of Functions of the Human Body (Saunders, 1964), the return of proteins to circulation is the single most important function of the lymphatic system. Vertical motion, through this forceful flow of lymphatic fluid, can return to circulation the proteins that are stuck in the lymph, thereby reducing swelling. With regular vertical motion therapy, the cause of the swelling is also addressed.

The frequency of your "low bounce" rebound sessions is best determined by a physical fitness educator who can help you to match your therapeutic and maintenance requirements with your constitution and condition.

Lymphatic Cleansing with the Low Health Bounce

The low bounce is a lateral shift, transferring weight from side to side. Bare feet remain on the mat (heels not lifting), shoulder-width apart. Arms ought to be relaxed, swinging like pendulums across the midline of the body. To prevent overburdening the body, begin with thirty seconds, gradually increasing to two minutes. When coping with a health challenge, bounce every waking hour for 21 to 90 days. Maintenance frequency would be five or six times daily. Make a conscientious effort to move in a clockwise direction to lessen connective-tissue strain.