Skip to main content

The 12 benefits of jumping rope (it’s not just for your inner child)

This classic workout technique has more pros than you may realize

Jump rope with shoes and weights
Exercicio Alexandra Tran / Unsplash

Unless you’re 7 years old or a regular at the local boxing gym, jumping rope probably isn’t part of your daily workout routine. But, if you’re looking for an easy, inexpensive way to get your blood pumping and burn fat fast, it should be. It’s deceptively simple, but jumping rope is one of the single best cardio fitness exercises, and not only that, but there are so many benefits of jumping rope.

Man using a jump rope.
Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels

The benefits of jumping rope and why you should get started

It’s inexpensive

Let’s get the most obvious benefit out of the way: Jumping rope is cheap. Compared to a gym membership, buying a treadmill, or splurging on a new Peloton, it’s incredibly inexpensive. For less than $30, you can score a complete jump rope set (with or without weights) to get started immediately.

Recommended Videos

It’s simple and easy

Poor form is one of the fastest ways to injure yourself while exercising. Thankfully, jumping rope is hard to do wrong. Just start with an appropriately sized rope, jump that rope, and repeat at your own pace.

It’s great for recovery

Because jumping rope is so simple, it’s an excellent way to recover from sports-related injuries. Many athletes and physical therapists regard it as the ideal baseline exercise. This is because jumping rope aligns and engages your entire body. Done correctly, it promotes good posture and form while getting you back into “fighting shape.”

It’s versatile and perfect for any fitness level

Jumping rope can be as moderate or as high-intensity as you want it to be, making it a perfect workout for everyone from couch potatoes to pro athletes. Beginners can start with slower, intermittent jump sessions of 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, and build up their stamina from there.

Person jumping rope
Dylan Nolte / Unsplash

It’s effective for weight loss

One of the most obvious benefits of jumping rope is that it’s amazingly effective for weight loss. Even a modest jump rope session is high-intensity and gets your heart rate up fast. By most estimates, it burns between 300 and 500 calories in just 15 minutes, depending on the intensity of your workout. According to the CDC, vigorous exercises are as much as two times as effective as their moderate-intensity counterparts. If you never seem to have time in your daily schedule to squeeze in a workout, now you can.

It boosts agility and coordination

The mechanics of jumping rope encourage good hand-eye-foot coordination. Maintaining a steady jumping rhythm for 10 minutes or more allows your brain to fully connect and engage with your entire body, so you’re constantly moving in sync. This makes it a great training routine for any sport or activity that involves quick changes in motion — everything from hockey and football to boxing and mountain biking.

It improves bone density

The intense repetition of jumping rope — and the landing, in particular — puts stress on your entire body. Like any properly performed exercise, it’s a good kind of stress that forces your body to respond positively over time. It increases resilience in your legs by building muscle and stronger bones in the process.

It builds explosive strength

Unlike basic cardio activities like jogging or rowing, jumping rope often involves explosive power. High-intensity rope jumping requires jumping, recovering, and repeating for hundreds of repetitions in a single workout — all of which builds explosive power for vigorous sports and outdoor activities.

It’s a full-body workout

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the movement. Jumping rope engages multiple muscle groups throughout your body, including your calves, hamstrings, quads, glutes, core, shoulders, and arms. This provides a well-rounded workout that strengthens and tones your entire physique.

Closeup of a jump rope
Adobe Stock

It’s a solid warm-up

Jumping rope doesn’t have to be the entree in your fitness regimen. It works just as well as an appetizer before the main event. Kickstart your regular routine with a quick, three- to five-minute burst on the rope. This is more than enough to get your heart pumping before any regular cardio or weight-training workout.

It has mental benefits, too

Jumping rope can be a fun and engaging activity that can help relieve stress and improve your mood. The rhythmic nature of the exercise can be meditative and promote relaxation.

You can travel with jump ropes

Working out while traveling isn’t easy. Hotel gyms are often lacking, and no one has yet to find an easy way to pack a dumbbell set and a balance ball in carry-on luggage. But jump ropes are compact and lightweight, making them an ideal go-anywhere fitness solution.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Topics
Do hiking poles really help your balance in the great outdoors? Here’s the study
To use hiking poles or not to use hiking poles? What does the research show on the benefits?
hiking poles

Some people prefer their trusty hiking shoes, while others won’t go without their favorite drink flask for much-needed hydration. I prefer my cushiony hiking shoes and vast trails with tall trees canopying the path ahead, with waterfalls as gleaming treasures along the way. Researchers have found hiking is accessible and can reduce depression and blood pressure while improving overall health and wellness. 

In our busy, digital modern world, where we spend a lot of time indoors, hiking provides a welcome escape into nature and a way to get our muscles moving. Many avid hikers use hiking poles, also known as trekking poles, to enhance stability, balance, and posture while hiking and to help reduce strain on the joints, especially on varying terrain. Trekking poles are lightweight and adjustable and are usually used in pairs by backpackers, hikers, and trekkers. They originated in Finland and were designed for Nordic walking.

Read more
Do warm-up sets improve your weightlifting performance? Researchers find out
If you're short on time, does it matter if you skip your warm-up sets? Will it hinder performance?
man doing bench press in the gym

Warm-ups and stretches add time to your workout; even so, plenty of fitness professionals discuss the benefits and reasons why you should include warming up in your workout session, especially when preparing to lift moderate or heavy weights. What about warm-up sets? Can warm-up sets help or hinder your weightlifting performance? Recently, researchers decided to find out in a new study. Before we delve into some of the latest research, what exactly are warm-up sets?

What are warm-up sets?

Read more
High-rep training is in fitness fashion — here’s the science on the benefits
Are there benefits to powering through more reps? What does the research show?
man holding dumbbell bicep curl

Sometimes, powering through more reps can give you that sense of accomplishment as you count the numbers and really start feeling that burn. Does more reps mean more results? Does it depend on your goals? Some people shoot for lower reps with a heavier weight, while others work with higher reps and a lighter weight. Many fitness pros say variety is the spice of life.

When I was trying to build general muscle strength and mass in my lower body and core through months of physical therapy, my physical therapist often had me power through three sets of 10 reps with a light or moderate weight or just my body weight. I always felt like I got a good workout in by the time I was done with three sets of 10 reps of my lat pulldowns, resistance band core exercises, glute bridges, butterfly kicks, squats, lunges, calf raises, and the rest.

Read more