Rebounding and Osteoporosis
From the desk of Al Carter:
Osteoporosis is the medical term used to describe holy bones. Osteo = bone, porosis = contains pores. All human bones contain holes, so osteoporosis is a relative term usually meaning more and bigger holes or pores than is desirable. Actually, osteoporosis is the decalcification of bones to the point of them becoming weaker and easier to be broken. The condition is found most prevalently in astronauts, senior citizens, and those who are bedridden. That is because bones have the ability of becoming stronger under stress and weaker when there is no stress. Gravity is the natural opposition (the good kind of stress) that makes live things strong.
Under healthy conditions, most forms of exercise will strengthen the bones, but when osteoporosis is known to exist, it is best to exercise without instantaneous trauma and impact on the weight bearing joints.
"Exercise can be helpful in building and maintaining strong bones. Exercise that forces you to work against gravity – so called weight bearing exercises such as walking or jogging [and rebounding] are beneficial …If you are at risk for osteoporosis, your doctor will most likely include exercise as part of your overall treatment program." 1
"The mini trampoline [rebounder] provides a convenient form of exercise with a major advantage being its apparent low level of trauma to the musculoskeletal system." 2
"If you have osteoporosis, you might be wondering if you should exercise at all. The answer, for most people, is yes. You should speak with your doctor or ask for a referral to a specialist in physical medicine to learn what type of exercises you can do safely, not only to preserve bone, but also to strengthen your back and hips and maintain flexibility. Your doctor will be able to help you design an appropriate exercise regimen. Keep in mind, however, that exercise alone cannot prevent or cure osteoporosis." 3
Rebounding, along with good nutrition and medication, is important for good osteoporosis control, but exercise has value only if it’s done regularly. Rebounding can be done everyday at a moment’s notice.
Rebound Exercise has been known to:
o Strengthen muscles, tendons and ligaments,
o Help bones become mineralized, dense and strong,
o Help develop balance and coordination,
o Maintain Homeostasis,
o Improve the flow of blood through the small blood vessels of the bones,
o Increase the heart’s pumping power,
o Increase lymphatic system circulation,
o Improve efficiency of the immune system.
It helps you look better and feel better.
It gives you a sense of control of your overall health.
Do Your Cells Need Exercise?
By: Albert E. Carter Nobody ever questions that exercise helps to strengthen the striated muscles, the skeletal muscles also known as the voluntary muscles. Health clubs and exercise programs, books and magazine articles depend on the ability of these muscles becoming stronger with increased resistance, but are they the only cells that are improved by exercise? The other two classifications of muscles, involuntary muscles and cardiac muscles are made up of cells that have much the same material. All muscle cells have the ability to contract enhanced by some type of increased physical stimulation. Aerobic exercises are designed specifically for strengthening the cells of the heart and the cells of the walls of the arteries making them stronger and more elastic. People who exercise regularly find that their skin (the largest organ of the body) is stronger and suppler. Skin cells are not muscle cells but they do react to various types of stimulation. Lack of exercise weakens bones of the skeletal system (space flight) while a vigorous exercise program causes the cells of the bones to request more bone material from the extracellular fluid and deposit it in the bone matrix, thus making the bones mineralized dense and strong. The cells anti-gravity muscles (muscles of posture) are challenged with any kind of consistent body movement and the cells of the vestibular system in the inner ear adjusts to physical activity. Properly stimulated the cells of the balancing mechanisms become more sensitive to any and all body movement. Better balance, coordination, and rhythm are the result. Vision is a talent and as such can be improved by exercise and proper stimulation. From the time we are born until the time we die we are constantly exercising the cells of the eyes. Sadly we do not think of looking to see as a form of exercise so most people do not concentrate on exercising the cells of the eyes. Rather they prefer to compensate a weakness with glasses. Vision therapists have been using trampolining very successfully to strengthen the cells of the eyes and improve vision for over forty years. In the past, connective tissue, the ligaments and tendons were thought not to react to exercise, but now it is known that that is simply not true. Although the connective tissue reacts differently than muscles and bones and possibly slower, it is now accepted that exercise will tighten and strengthen the ligaments of the body. The way we learn, or gain knowledge is by stimulating the brain. Brain cells of the cerebellum are constantly monitoring the movements of all of the skeletal muscles. Typically, when a person first performs a new motor skill it is almost always incorrect. But after the act has been performed many times, these individual events become more progressively precise, sometimes requiring only a few movements before the desired result is achieved. We now know that the brain increases in the number of synapses, or connections from one brain cell to another in people who are involved in an active exercise program.
White blood cells of the immune system move faster through the body – as much as fifteen times faster during and just after a vigorous exercise program. Not only that but they become more numerous –as much as three times normal in the blood stream after just a single minute of extremely hard exercise. Just like any other cell group of the body, white blood cells have the ability of becoming stronger individually and thus collectively becoming a stronger fighting force. Studies reveal that a regular exercise program will reduce your chance of cancer by as much as 40%! Conclusion: Of the more than three hundred types of cells, all cells need exercise and each will react favorably in their own way.
Your Lymphatic System – a vital system of the body.
By: Albert E. Carter
The lymphatic system is interactive with every organ and is directly related to the immune function and efficiency. It is a protector and a defense mechanism against infection, viruses, bacteria, fungi and disease. It is comprised of fluid, vessels, ducts and various other organs and structures. It clears toxins, wastes, excess fluids, and infection from all tissues of the body through proper flow and drainage provided this essential system is functioning at its peak.
Mention the heart or the cardiovascular system and most people have a pretty good idea of what it is and how it functions. But although the lymphatic system is vitally important to our health most people don’t understand it. Some have not even heard of it.
The cardiovascular system delivers life-giving oxygen and nutrients to all of the organs and cells of the body and is connected up to a very strong blood pump – the heart.
The lymphatic system is also connected to every organ of the body, but its function is completely different from that of the cardiovascular system. It is the garbage collector, the internal vacuum cleaner sucking up metabolic garbage, toxins and excess fluid from the extracellular fluid of every organ. If this flow is impaired, the fluid becomes thick and toxic. The parts of the body that rely on it for elimination become less efficient and sluggish as they fill with their own waste. This otherwise life sustaining system now becomes a breeding ground for infection. When the fluid enters the bloodstream, as is part of the normal process, infection can now spread to any organ or part of the body. Many viruses, bacteria and parasites stay locked within the lymphatic system when these conditions are present. The result: physical ailments, degenerative disease, hastening of the aging process, even death!
The lymphatic system is not connected up to the heart, so it has to rely upon some other activity to create the necessary pumping action it needs to circulate. The three most important methods of lymphatic circulation are external massage, muscle activity, and vigorous exercise. The lymphatic system is filled with millions of one-way valves, which allows lymph fluid to flow unidirectional – usually upward away from gravity. Almost anything that can stimulate the movement of lymph fluid inside the lymph vessels of the system is healthy, but the most efficient way to stimulate the flow of lymph fluid is by rebounding. The up and down rhythmic bouncing causes all of the one-way valves to open and close simultaneously increasing lymph flow as much as fifteen times! Rebounding does that
An emunctory is any opening through which the body eliminates foreign matter from one part of the body to another. This is not only through the eliminative organs, such as the bowel, kidney or lung, as most would think, but also can be via a joint, lymph system, or skin, for example. When a foreign substance is present, the body’s first reflex is to expel or eliminate it. When this elimination is suppressed by any means such as by taking traditional drugs, medications or some therapies, some of the foreign matter gets suppressed (or pushed back into the system). Then, the very organisms or substances the body is intelligently attempting to eliminate become stored within the body and in any number of areas causing any number of disease symptoms. As this process occurs and elimination is blocked, the body then becomes toxic. When the toxins cannot be removed due to congestion or blockages, the degenerative disease process begins.
SYMPTOMS:
Many people have badly congested lymphatics and don’t even know it. At this time in our country the lymphatic system is the most over-looked system of the human body. In Europe stimulation of the lymph flow is the fourth most commonly prescribed medical treatment. Most U. S. healthcare practitioners seldom consider the lymphatic system’s critical role in preventing illness or its importance to the over all healing process. Some of the organs that are part of the lymphatic system are lymph nodes and lymph veins, the tonsils, adenoids, appendix and the spleen and you know what happens to those parts of the body whenever surgeons get close to them. Swollen glands, with which most of us are familiar, are symptomatic of blocked lymph nodes, which indicate a breakdown in the mechanical functioning of the lymphatic system.
Other examples of congested lymphatics are:
* Allergies
* Prostatitis
* Chronic Sinusitis
* Heart disease
* Eczema & other skin conditions
* Loss of Energy
* Fibrocystic disease
* Chronic fatigue
* Repetitive parasitic infections
* M S
* Edema
* Lupus erythematosis
* Inflammation
* High blood pressure
* Viral infections
* Puffy eyes
* Bacterial infections
* Low back pain
* Loss of Energy
* Cancer
* Ear or balance problems
* Arthritis
* Headaches
* Cellulite
* Excessive sweating
* Obesity
And More!
Rebound exercise is so efficient in stimulating the lymph flow that Dr. C. Samuel West calls it (Lymphocizing) I say it is simply a miracle the way the body knows how to take care of itself. We just need to know how to help it a little and do it!
33 Ways the Body Responds to Rebounding!
By Dr. Morton Walker and Albert E. Carter
There are at least 33 fascinating ways the body responds to regular rebounding:
- Rebounding provides an increased G-force (gravitational load), which strengthens the musculoskeletal systems.
2. Rebounding protects the joints from the chronic fatigue and impact delivered by exercising on hard surfaces.
3. Rebounding helps manage body composition and improves muscle-to-fat ratio.
4. Rebounding aids lymphatic circulation by stimulating the millions of one-way valves in the lymphatic system.
5. Rebounding circulates more oxygen to the tissues.
6. Rebounding establishes a better equilibrium between the oxygen required by the tissues and the oxygen made available.
7. Rebounding increases capacity for respiration.
8. Rebounding tends to reduce the height to which the arterial pressures rise during exertion.
9. Rebounding lessens the time during which blood pressure remains abnormal after severe activity.
10. Rebounding assists in the rehabilitation of a heart problem.
11. Rebounding increases the functional activity of the red bone marrow in the production of red blood cells.
12. Rebounding improves resting metabolic rate so that more calories are burned for hours after exercise.
13. Rebounding causes muscles to perform work in moving fluids through the body to lighten the heart's load.
14. Rebounding decreases the volume of blood pooling in the veins of the cardiovascular system preventing chronic edema.
15. Rebounding encourages collateral circulation by increasing the capillary count in the muscles and decreasing the distance between the capillaries and the target cells.
16. Rebounding strengthens the heart and other muscles in the body so that they work more efficiently.
17. Rebounding allows the resting heart to beat less often.
18. Rebounding lowers circulating cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
19. Rebounding lowers low-density lipoprotein (bad) in the blood and increases high-density lipoprotein (good) holding off the incidence of coronary artery disease.
20. Rebounding promotes tissue repair.
21. Rebounding for longer than 20 minutes at a moderate intensity increases the mitochondria count within the muscle cells, essential for endurance.
22. Rebounding adds to the alkaline reserve of the body, which may be of significance in an emergency requiring prolonged effort.
23. Rebounding improves coordination between the proprioceptors in the joints, the transmission of nerve impulses to and from the brain, transmission of nerve impulses and responsiveness of the muscle fibers.
24. Rebounding improves the brain’s responsiveness to the vestibular apparatus within the inner ear, thus improving balance.
25. Rebounding offers relief from neck and back pains, headaches, and other pain caused by lack of exercise.
26. Rebounding enhances digestion and elimination processes.
27. Rebounding allows for deeper and easier relaxation and sleep.
28. Rebounding results in better mental performance, with keener learning processes.
29. Rebounding curtails fatigue and menstrual discomfort for women.
30. Rebounding minimizes the number of colds, allergies, digestive disturbances, and abdominal problems.
31. Rebounding tends to slow down atrophy in the aging process.
32. Rebounding is an effective modality by which the user gains a sense of control and an improved self -image.
33. Rebounding is enjoyable!
People who rebound find they are able to work longer, sleep better, and feel less tense and nervous. The effect is not just psychological, because the action of bouncing up and down against gravity effectively stimulates the lymphatic system without trauma to the musculoskeletal system. This unique discovery is central to the reasons Rebounding has become one of the most beneficial forms of exercise ever developed.
Why Rebound Exercise is So Great!
Just ten minutes of a high energy workout on your rebounder will provide you with approximately the same benefits that you would receive from jogging on the road for THIRTY minutes – minus the jarring effects to your nervous and skeletal systems. Rebounding is a NON-IMPACT aerobic form of exercise.
Rebounding provides the benefits of the three most popular exercise programs in the world; jogging (over 40 million participants), weight training (around 29 million), and aerobic exercise, i.e., aerobic dance, jazzercise, etc. (over 24 million). In addition, each of these three are dangerous to your health. Jogging "takes more from the body than it gives back" says Dr. J. E. Schmidt, M.D. Dr. Kenneth Cooper says that "weight training is anaerobic and does not give good cardio-respiratory benefits."
Dr. James R. White, author of Jump For Joy, states "Rebounding is an excellent method of weight control because you can burn off between 5 to 12 calories per minute and if you follow a 30 to 40 minute per day program, you can easily lose 27 lbs. per year".
Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, whose books have sold more than 12 million copies in 24 languages states that 80% of a fitness program should be aerobic in nature. He says "Aerobic exercises usually involve endurance activities which don't require excessive speed."
Dr. Harry Sneider, author of Olympic Trainer says that aerobic resistive rebounding provides
· aerobic benefits just like jogging
· bodybuilding benefits like weight training
· one can do a variety of dance moves like Jazzercise and the very popular aerobic dance programs
He says that there are distinct advantages to resistive rebounding. They are:
· safe for all joints in the skeletal system
· by using the calibrated hand-held weight, one becomes stronger and develops cardio-respiratory fitness and body tone
· cleanses the lymphatic system
· improves coordination, depth perception and balance
· assists all sports skills in techniques and injury reduction
Specific Exercises for Targeted Areas:
Waistline: The best way to trim and tone this area is to twist, by sliding your heels to the right while turning your torso to the left as you bounce. Running, jogging, and sprinting also helps.
Saddlebags on Upper Thighs: Walking and jogging motions help tone this area, however a side kick is excellent for this. While bouncing, kick your legs back and forth to the sides, extending them as much as is comfortable.
Upper Arms: While you bounce or run, push out to the sides and front, and pull in, push up, pull down, adding light hand weights, if desired.
Belly, Below Waist: Health bounce, stretching arms up high, pull in tummy muscles while holding a deep breath. Repeat several times. Sit on the rebounder, bounce by making circles with your arms, lean back slightly and briefly. Sit up, rest, and repeat.
Fanny: Walk, jog, sprint, or jump. High sprint really extends these muscles, and your pace can be easy.
Chest: Push palms of hands together in front of you as you bounce, or hook all your fingers together, one hand over the other, and pull with your arms as you bounce.