“Almost anyone can do trampolining, from all ages to all abilities,” says trampolining coach Jessica Hannen from Better leisure centers. With students of all ages, experience and disabilities, she explains that “everyone can gain something from trampolining, first and foremost because it’s really fun.”

Don’t think that means it’s not a tough workout though. “It’s a really good source of cardio fitness and it builds lower body muscle without weight bearing, as the bed of the trampoline absorbs impact,” she says. That makes it perfect for those who struggle with joint pain or injury that stops them doing high-impact sport such as running or HIIT.

A 2019 study published in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport even found that trampolining can be as effective as resistance training for improving knee muscle strength and dynamic balance. And you don’t have to train like an Olympian to reap the benefits: a 2015 study showed that half an hour of trampolining three times a week was shown to improve balance and dynamic gait while reducing the risk of falls in stroke patients.

“You can get a massive set of achievement and enthusiasm for the sport because it’s easy to progress quickly,” says Hannen. “Most people manage to move from learning the basic jumps to simple moves like seat drops in just a few sessions, then add on harder technique soon after.”

Trampolining has become one of the most popular sports – this is why it’s so good for you