How to jump and land on a trampoline safely: Tips to avoid injury

Knowing how to jump and land on a trampoline safely is just as important as the workout itself.

The importance of how to jump and land smoothly and happily is not always obvious when you’re doing trampoline!

As a whole, trampoline exercise in itself is quite safe. To avoid danger, kids under 6 should avoid it, and older kids should be supervised. Furthermore, only one person at a time, respect the manufacturer’s guidelines at all times, and timely replace any damaged parts.

There is a risk element which can easily be mitigated, so read on to understand how to have fun and a workout without injury.

How to jump and land on a trampoline safely: Introduction

We have a lot of fun on the trampoline, but trampolining is much more than just jumping.

This activity requires coordination, agility, strength, and endurance and, at the same time, promotes the development of these skills.

It also requires the respect of some safety rules. So let’s go for safe jumps!

The most frequent causes of accidents with trampolines

Children under 6 years of age should not be allowed to trampoline as they lack the necessary coordination.

Besides not having the motor skills to do this activity, their knees and hips are not yet stable enough. Also, their spine does not sufficiently cushion landings.

Most trampoline accidents involve children and teenagers between the ages of 4 and 15.

The most common causes of accidents are:

• Uncontrolled fall due to overexertion
• Trampoline ejection due to impact with another user
• Contact with the springs or the trampoline frame
• Collisions with other users
• Clumsy or violent landing on the trampoline
• Dangerous jumps like somersaults

Sounds scary? It’s really very easy to avoid!

What should I look out for when buying a trampoline?

As a general rule, the more stable the trampoline, the safer it is. Also, make sure it is equipped with the following accessories:

• Choose the size of your trampoline to guarantee an unobstructed safety distance of 6.5 feet all around.
• Do not exceed the maximum payload indicated on the (mini) trampoline packaging.
• The frame, springs, and elastics must be covered entirely. The frame cover and suspension must be immobile.
• The safety net prevents falls on the floor or on the frame.

How to set up the trampoline?

Correct installation can prevent many accidents.

Observe the following points:

• Attach the manufacturer’s safety instructions to the trampoline.
• Keep a minimum distance of 2 meters between the trampoline and any source of danger (building, obstacles, place with a risk of falling, etc.). Measure it!
• Ladders and other climbing aids should be avoided as they may encourage young children to climb the trampoline.
• Set up the trampoline on a flat, non-slip surface. Suitable are grassy surfaces, lawns, or shock-absorbing floors. Hard floors such as asphalt, tiles, or pavers are not ideal.
• Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

How to jump safely on a trampoline?

Here are some safety rules to ensure that nothing interferes with the fun of jumping:

• Limit the amount of time you use it and take regular breaks.
• No somersaults, as the risk of injury is exceptionally high in the event of a clumsy landing.
• Jump in gym shoes or thin-soled tennis shoes. Or barefoot, unless the jumping canvas is mesh. Do not jump in socks (risk of slipping) or hard-soled street shoes (risk of ankle sprain).
• Supervise or have your children supervised: Set clear rules and explain the dangers of jumping on the trampoline. The supervision of your own trampoline is your responsibility.
• Always jump and land in the middle of the jumping web.
• To stop: practice the stop jump by bending your knees as you touch the jumping mat to cushion the bounce.
• The trampoline should only be used by one person at a time. If 2 people are on it simultaneously, uncontrolled jumps and collisions are almost inevitable. The risk of an accident seriously increases, especially for the lighter child. Therefore, it is imperative to limit the use of the machine to one person. Several studies have found that children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old often have a particular tibia fracture. This is especially noticeable when children of different weight jump simultaneously. Therefore, only one child should be on the trampoline under parental supervision.

Please understand, we do not want to prevent anyone from doing trampoline because its health benefits are numerous (such as better health thanks to losing weight), but certain precautions must be taken.

Related post: Benefits of jumping on a mini trampoline for adults: Secret benefits

Maintenance to keep your trampoline in perfect condition

Use and weather put the trampolines to the test.

Worn, overstressed, or missing parts are a safety hazard and must be replaced immediately.

If maintenance work is needed, do not allow the trampoline to be used.

Read the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions carefully and pay particular attention to the following points.

Daily before use

• Check the safety net and drop cloth for holes, tears, and loose seams.
• Make sure that the space underneath the drop cloth is clear.
• Check that the jump sheet and padding are dry and that the access can be closed from the inside.

Weekly or monthly (depending on the intensity of use)

• Check the space inside the safety net. It must be free of sharp and protruding elements. The safety net and the jump sheet must not have holes or tears.
• Check the frame and legs for tears or breaks. They should not be too worn, and the locking pins should be intact.
• Check the tension springs and eyelets under the frame cover. Distended or broken springs must be replaced.

Annually at the end of the season

• During the winter, trampoline maintenance is essential so keep the trampoline in a cool, dry place so that it will not be damaged by snow and cold.
• The safety net has a limited lifespan indicated by the manufacturer. Consider replacing it at the end of the season.
• Check for wear and tear on essential parts such as the safety net, padding, cover, tension springs, drop cloth, frame, and components. Also, check for loose seams, tears, stretching, or breaks. If necessary, replace the defective parts.

Trampoline liability: What you need to know

Anyone who provides a recreational trampoline is responsible for its assembly, maintenance, and upkeep.

Children, especially small children, must be supervised. Supervision is the responsibility of the person setting up the trampoline and the parents or guardians of the children.

How to jump and land on a trampoline safely: Conclusion

A trampoline has innumerable health effects, not to mention the fun element, as further discussed in our other post Benefits of mini trampoline exercise: Reasons to start rebounding

However, a great trampoline session could easily end in tears if the above trampoline safety advice is not followed.

So, make sure you can have fun and work out safely. Trampolining safely doesn’t take much but can make all the difference.