Development of safer recreational trampolines

Recent research in New Zealand showed that trampoline injuries had risen 30 0 per cent in the preceding 10 years and that 2800 people (almost 0.1 per c ent of the population) had been seen each year in hospitals as a result. Th ese injuries arose from unsupervised recreational use of trampolines in bac kyards and playgrounds. Researchers and trampoline enthusiasts offered prev entative measures which, while effective, were in many cases incompatible w ith how recreational trampolines were inevitably used. The present author b elieved that many of the injuries would be prevented if trampolines could b e redesigned to remove the steel frame, springs and the holes between the s prings from around the jumping area. As a result several soft-edged trampol ines were built and tested. Tests were developed to compare performance wit h conventional trampolines. Edge stiffness was compared with standards for safety pads on trampoline frames. Market and production requirements were a lso significant since the new units need to compete with mature competitors . One solution that appears to meet most requirements is close to market re lease. This is described and compared with conventional recreational trampo lines.