Trampolines are an excellent gift or purchase for anyone whether or not they’re into trampolining as such. For those who want to become athletics on the trampoline, who attend clubs or competitions, then a large trampoline for the garden is a great way to practice that hobby or sport and to get better to ensure that you win those competitions and impress at the clubs (though you will need to ensure you have room for a full sized trampoline). For children, a trampoline of any size can offer a great way to keep them entertained for hours in the fresh air and getting exercise – and it’s something they can do with friends if they come round. For exercise in general a trampoline is a great option for toning and burning calories – providing a fun cardiovascular activity right in your back garden. If you want a trampoline for fitness alone then you can also get much smaller ones that can go behind a wardrobe or under a bed and offer just the size and bounce you need to burn calories while watching the TV. You’ll find that it’s actually addictive (unlike most exercise which we tend to dread when the time comes around) and that you enjoy working out. Again, every one will want a go. In short the uses of trampolines are endless and they’re great fun, you can even have trampoline parties or use it as a soft landing for a variety of other games and activities.
However the downside of a trampoline is that they can be quite dangerous if you don’t pay attention when you’re purchasing them and setting them up, or if you abuse them when playing on them. For young children, enforcing strict rules on how to use a trampoline safely can be tricky as they get overly excited at the prospect of bouncing up and down wildly. For these reasons it’s crucial that you take care when purchasing your trampoline and when setting it up, and that you buy the correct trampoline for its use.
One danger of a trampoline is that a leg or foot could go through the gaps where the cables meet the surface. To minimise this problem look for a trampoline that has gaps as small and as few as possible. Another similar risk factor is that the edge around the surface and springs can be quite hard, so make sure this is properly padded. If you’re particularly concerned then you can get inflatable trampolines that, though a lot smaller, don’t contain any metal or hard surfaces at all in their design.
Another problem is that people could fall off the trampolines while bouncing and this could lead to a serious injury. There are again ways around this problem however – for example some trampolines come with netting surrounding the main jumping area and are so ‘caged in’ meaning that no one can fall off the edge and in fact can enjoy bouncing into it. Other smaller trampolines come with a handle at the front that you can hold while you jump which will enable you to jump around as much as you like while supporting yourself. This can also combat against twisted ankles etc.
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