In a study conducted by Dejaeghere Severine and Matthys Heleen of Ghent University, trunk muscle activity during trampoline jumping is evaluated. Earlier research by other scientists has shown that using an unstable surface leads to increased activation of the spinal muscles, which also proves beneficial for the stabilising muscles. The current research finds that trampoline jumping is a good stabilisation exercise for people struggling with (lower) back problems.


The research

The aim of the research is to analyse muscle activity during trampoline jumping. In doing so, the researchers wanted to establish whether different results occur during different jump heights.

The research was conducted using 15 (healthy) test subjects. The subjects had to move in 3 different ways on a clinical trampoline with elastic suspension: bouncing (where the feet barely leave the mat), a low jump, and a high jump.

In their paper, the authors conclude that an increasing degree of muscle activity occurs during the phase of increasing jump height during trampoline jumping. The research distinguishes between 4 different phases of trampoline jumping:

  1. The push-off or take-off phase
  2. The rising phase
  3. The falling phase
  4. The landing phase


Results

According to the scientists, the effects of phases one and two on muscle activity are nearly identical. During the first and second phase of the jump, the greatest muscle activity is found in the test subjects. This high muscle activity therefore occurs mainly when the body is moving against gravity (and during landing).

As jump height increases, muscle activity increases accordingly. The higher the jump, the more intense the effect on the body. According to the research results, gentle bouncing, compared to high jumping, is best for people with back complaints, since this best stabilises the trunk. According to the authors, this means that trampoline jumping can be used very effectively in a treatment programme to stabilise the (lower) back muscles. According to Severine and Heleen, this is because bouncing on a trampoline causes low impact on the spine. Moreover, trampoline jumping is easy for anyone to apply and is less risky to perform than other forms of exercise for patients with back complaints.