September 21st, 2009
‘Two goes please’ said the old man proffering a handful of coins which I took to be the hard won savings of his grandson who was already removing his shoes. Then as Grandad started to take off his shoes it dawned on me. I apologised for assuming that the boy was going to stay on for another turn and and enquired as to Grandad’s age. 72 he replied. ‘This keeps me fit and supple’. I then watched in amazement as Grandad completed simple routines that included neat somersaults and baranis. OK that is a little exceptional but the point here is that bouncing on a trampoline is fun and surprisingly easy to do at a simple level. It also just happens to be one of the most complete forms of exercise that you can do. It’s right up there with swimming, running and walking, but for older bones it’s low impact aerobic exercise that is kind to your skeletal frame. So to those who think they are too old I say: Don’t walk past that empty trampoline. Provided that you are sober, have a go. But keep it simple. However much fun you think it is do not bounce for more than 5 minutes initially. Trampolining is a whole body exercise that uses muscles that you never knew you had.
At a simpler level try rebounding. That is bouncing on a small exercise trampoline. These are relatively cheap to buy, take up little space and are the next best thing to a proper trampoline. Again: Short sessions to start with until you can build up to a 20 to 30 minute daily session. It need take up none of your precious time. Want to watch TV? Bounce while you watch with the added benefit of extra exercise for your eyes too.
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September 21st, 2009
From the American Society of Paediatrics to individual parents who will not let their children use a garden trampoline. Individual phobias are alive and kicking and here to stay. Sometimes they creep into the ethos of an organisation, especially where there is a culture of seeking financial gain for virtually any injury. Is there any chance that we can to take a balanced view? Will we ever be able to remove the ‘Dangerous’ label from the garden trampoline? The explosive growth in trampoline sales over the past decade has led to millions of children bouncing on garden trampolines. Thus it would be totally unrealistic to assume that no injuries would occur. Did you know that playing football in the UK results in 250,000 visits to casualty each year. That is an average of 685 per day? That compares with just 170 children per day in the whole of the US being seen in casualty for trampoline related injuries. Whilst a whopping 914 dog bites are treated in US emergency departments each day. Death or Paralysis from trampolining is thankfully very rare. But all too common with horse riding, cycling and swimming. Yet there is little talk of excluding children from these activities. I leave you with the thought that only a ‘bear of very little brain’ would label a trampoline as dangerous for it is an inanimate object. It’s the way in which it is used that makes all the difference. That’s the challenge for our big human brains.
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September 21st, 2009
‘Not suitable for Children under 6′. You may have come across this phrase printed in trampoline instruction booklets or on trampoline cartons. Where did it originate and why? Every day thousands of very young children bounce happily on trampolines without harming themselves. They love it and parents feel they are benefiting from the exercise whilst developing balance, coordination and spatial awareness. So who is trying to spoil their fun and deprive them of healthy exercise? Answer: A few lawyers in the USA. I’m sure that they are not really killjoys but their actions in relation to ’strict liability’ tend to have a knock on effect. Manufacturers are cautious by nature so they play safe and add this little warning. It is easy for a toddler to fall off a trampoline and a 3 foot fall when you are only 2 foot high is a long way down. But a netting enclosure or setting the trampoline in the ground solves the problem. Statistically, it easy to prove that children under 6 are more likely to be hurt on a trampoline, because when other children and even adults bounce together on a trampoline it is invariably the smallest bouncer that is most likely to get hurt. So please don’t deprive the under sixes, but please, please look after them and make sure they bounce on their own or only with little people of their own size.
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September 21st, 2009
It’s tempting to experiment with different moves on your trampoline. But what ever you want to do whilst airborne it is vital that you plan ahead for your landing. Whilst a trampoline bed is relatively soft and bouncy it is not so soft that you can never hurt yourself when landing incorrectly. It is interesting to note that recent studies in medical circles indicate that the majority of trampoline injuries actually happen on the trampoline bed. There are only four parts of your body that you should plan to land on. They are:
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Your two Feet at the same time. As in a Basic straight bounce.
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Your Bottom. As in a Seat Drop.
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Your Front. As in a Front Drop.
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Your Back. As in a Back Drop
Always take off from the middle of the bed and plan to land in the middle of the bed.
It is of course possible to land on other parts of your body. However, many decades of experience have shown that it is not advisable and can invariably lead to injuries. Even landing on your keees, though easy enough to do, can lead to back injuries or an involuntary dive towards the edge of the trampoline.
When doing a seat drop your body should be vertical and your legs horizontal. So that you form an ‘L’ shape. Land with hands on the bed for additional support with fingers pointing towards your feet.
Front and Back drops, though simple once mastered, should be taught by a qualified trampoline coach.
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September 21st, 2009
This is the all important fabric on which you bounce. It’s not elastic as so many people assume. The stretchy part that creates the bounciness is the suspension system that attaches the bed to the frame (usually steel springs). So the attachments at the edge of the bed are important. Over 99% of garden trampolines have a black polypropylene mesh fabric bed, usually there are steel triangles attached by webbing that is sewn into the edge of the bed. There are a number of rows of stitching all around the edge of the bed. In time this stitching will gradually wear and start to break. A few breaks here and there are nothing to worry about but once a steel triangle comes away and there is a spring hanging down below the frame it is time to either have the bed completely restitched or to replace it with a new one.
Your bed may get damaged. Often through no fault of your own. Whilst very strong and hard wearing these beds burn and cut easily. So nearby bonfires or firework displays can drop burning embers onto your trampoline bed. Winter gales send roof tiles, small branches and other items flying. Small burn holes less than 5mm across will not get any bigger and can be safely ignored. Larger holes that could trap little toes or fingers are not acceptable. In these cases the bed should be replaced. Whilst it is possible to patch a damaged bed be aware that it is only a temporary measure as the stitching will not last long, especially in the central area of the bed.
Whilst this black bed fabric is very UV stable and lasts 10 years or more in the northern European climate you can get the best out of your trampoline bed by ensuring that shoes and any sharp objects of clothing and jewellery are removed by users. Also encourage users to bounce in the centre of the bed so that stresses are evenly spread around the edge of the bed. Springs, triangular anchor webs and bed stitching are subjected to higher wear rates if users do not bounce in the centre of the bed. The centre of the bed just happens to also be the bounciest and safest area.
Of course a weather cover will help keep the bed clean and theoretically prolong the life of the fabric. That is if wear, tear and minor mishaps don’t destroy it first. If you feel the need to clean the bed use warm water and a scrubbing brush. Do not use petroleum based cleaners.
It should go without saying that skate boards, roller skates, wake boards, snow boards, skis and mountain bikes can all damage trampoline beds. Not to mention testing newly acquired pen knives for sharpness. Yes, we’ve seen it all!
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September 21st, 2009
Where will it be sited?
”We’d love to get a trampoline but we haven’t got the space for one”. We humans tend to use whatever space we have and fill it up with whatever is useful, beautiful or fashionable at the time. So firstly take stock of your whole garden. You may need to change the lay out or find a new home for that old swing set. Flower beds, shrubs and small trees can be re-sited. Sloping ground can be terraced. What about the look of the garden? Do you really need a very visible netting enclosure on your trampoline? Perhaps it would be better to plan on setting the trampoline into the ground. A word of caution here. Do please stop and consider the effect that your new trampoline may have on relations with your neighbours. They will probably be happiest if does not change and/or spoil their view. Yes: Your garden but their view! Of course if after considering all the above you simply cannot create enough ‘extra’ space then you may have to compromise with a smaller trampoline.
Please don’t give in without a fight! But.. and here is the most important bit so please pay attention: What ever space you choose for siting your trampoline you must measure it accurately. No short cuts or rule of thumb. No near enough is good enough. Two of you and a tape measure. You will be amazed at how many folk buy a trampoline and then find that it won’t fit into the space they have allocated for it.
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September 21st, 2009
The 2 main factors to consider are quite simply:
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Who is going to be using it
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Where will it be sited. See Part 2
Whilst we all know that it is important to keep within budget. if you make this your over riding consideration there is a good chance that you will end up buying the wrong trampoline. You may understandably feel that it is not worth spending too much on a piece of ‘play’ equipment that may not get much use. That the children may lose interest after a few weeks. Talk to friends and neighbours who already own a garden trampoline. They will tell you how popular they are and how their children and friends never seem to tire of bouncing on the trampoline. Your trampoline is going to get a lot of use. You’ll find yourself telling people that it was the best thing you ever bought for your kids. So back to the beginning: Who will use it and what will they use it for? Just your children and their friends for bouncy play? Then choose a round trampoline. But what size? Your children may only be pre schoolers right now but they will still want to bounce on the trampoline in 7 or 8 years time. Are Mum and Dad and their friends going to have a go? You are about to invest in 10 years of family fun and exercise. If you have the space for it you will regret buying anything smaller than a 12 footer. Trust me. I have had hundreds of customers come back and say. ”If I had known how popular it was going to be I would have bought a bigger one”.
It may be that your children are keen gymnasts, trampolinists, high divers, free style boarders, skiers or have aerial aspirations. If this is the case then consider a proper rectangular trampoline.
All performance trampolines are rectangular. Don’t be taken in by claims that oval or octagonal trampolines are performance trampolines. You will be very disappointed. Again: Go as big as you can. Bear in mind that a standard size trampoline has a 12 x 6 foot (366 x 183cm) bed and 100 springs.
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September 21st, 2009
When we were kids we knew darn well that adults were generally a bunch of spoil sports. Perhaps with the exception of Uncle Harry. But then all the grown ups said he was a bad influence and the Black Sheep of the family. But it has to be said that our parents were generally just trying to protect us from undue harm. It’s for this reason that your trampoline is delivered with a set of rules and may even have these rules printed on the frame pads. These rules are based on past experiences – often very painful and damaging for those involved. Please read these rules and make sure that all your family both understand them and uphold them. Especially when their friends are bouncing too. Nearly all garden trampolining accidents happen because one or more off these rules have been broken. If you are buying a trampoline do make sure that the rules are clearly printed on the frame pads or netting. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) are committed to a realistic approach to safety in the home environment. They are most certainly not a bunch of killjoys. Some of their senior staff enjoy extreme sports when off duty. Do please check out their trampoline advice at http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/information/trampoline_safety.htm
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September 21st, 2009
They all look pretty much the same. So which make of trampoline should I buy? It is a hard choice. There are hundreds of different suppliers. So it is not surprising that manufacturers try to stand out from the crowd with a variety of catchy and innovative designs. Some look pretty smart and others a bit weird. But the questions you want answered are: Do they work? Do they do the job? Are they worth paying extra for? By and large the standard designs have stood the test of time and do work. Also they are generally good value for money. Many innovations in trampoline design have now become standard. The elasticated toggle loops that attach most sets of frame pads to the frame were first used by Super Tramp in 1993. Printed caution notices on frame pads were another Super Tramp first in 1989. The realisation that leg assemblies could fall off or worse still swing under the trampoine bed when the trampoline was moved to mow the lawn, heralded tensioned frames, friction catches, and spring ball catches. But are ‘T’ clamps the best way to attach vertical legs to the top frame? Only if the frame tubing is so light that a weld might not be strong enough. Are stretch bands or fibreglass rods better than springs? They certainly do not deliver a better or softer bounce. Does it matter just exactly how the trampoline safety enclosure attaches to the trampoline as long as it stays put and does the job? Just make sure that your enclosure will not catch the wind in the winter and your trampoline remains in your garden.
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September 21st, 2009
Have you noticed how very visible garden trampolines have become in the last 3 years? The public perception is that a huge growth in trampoline sales must have taken place quite recently. Actually, this is not the case. Prior to 2006 there were hundreds of thousands of garden trampolines in use. But generally you couldn’t see them because most of them were not fitted with netting enclosures. Now these very visible and rather ugly structures have popped up everywhere. Attractive they are not. So please think about the impact you are making on your neighbours’ view and general neighbourhood when siting your trampoline. In the process of minimising risk of injury will you be jeopardising relations with your neighbours? Maybe you feel it’s worth it for all the healthy fun and exercise your family will enjoy. But please also consider a further local environmental impact: Noise. It could be the regular squeak and flap that so many trampolines make when in use, but what is far more likely to disturb the peace are the ‘look at me’ shouts, whoops of joy and shrieks of surprise. Maybe that won’t bother your neighbours but remember that a little bit of consideration and timely communication can go a long way towards creating harmonious relations with them.
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