Body Pump question-jumping

hairsprayhon

I love my body pump class and one of my goals of 2013 is getting to 3 per week instead of two. I am 58 years old after losing 75 pounds on my year on MFP, I now weigh 200 pounds. I play a lot of tennis and when I do, I wear ankle braces because of previously having two broken ankles.
My question-does it really make sense for me to be doing the squat jumps? When the first jumps were introduced, I didn't even try, I just kept the bar and continued. But as I have gotten stronger I wanted to prove that I could do them. With the new routine, I was able to do them and I liked the way they got my heart pumping, but its a cost benefit thing, is the pounding on my ankles and knees worth the cardio burst?

tuffytuffy1

I would say no, just keep doing what you are doing. Personally, I wouldn't want to risk your ankles especially for just a few extra calories in a class. Keep up the great work! I go to a personal trainer twice a week but I am starting body pump next week

mdbs2004

I dont understand the jumping and refuse to do them. for 58 minutes the workout is low/no impact. I dont understand why they would put in a high impact jump. I love body pump. Its a GREAT workout! I do it 2 or 3 times a week.

Martucha123

I went to this class couple of times and noticed a lot of people continue doing squats with barbell when other jumps. I would say jumping is optional (IMO useless) and if you are worried, then just don't do it

GuybrushThreepw00d

I would say no, just keep doing what you are doing.

Been to 2 body pump classes, and enjoyed *most* of the class.
However there's a few things i don't like, but we're told that if we don't like it then don't bother coming to the class and just go to the gym.

The main reason i won't be going back is the enforcement of bad form in the squats. I don't want to half-squat!

damaged_glitter

I don't do the jump squats for a similar reason. I messed up an ankle a few years ago and I skip jumps. If you are playing tennis, you are getting plenty cardio.

JDunbar82

Oh those jumps are killer! I would say no its not worth it if you're worried about your ankle. I modify a few of the twisting ab things we've been doing because I have a 2 level spinal fusion in my back and to me its not worth the extra stress its going to put on those joints doing that particular movement. But...that's the great thing about that class, its ok to do things at your pace and modify as needed.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Talk to your doctor and listen to your body. If you've injured yourself the only thing that you've proven is that you can injure yourself. You also have to quantify it, okay my ankles can't take an hour or two of running, jumping, and torquing on the tennis court but can they take 16 plyos straight up and down. They are two very different activities that require two very different sets of movements (tennis = running, jumping, twisting, pivoting, lateral movements, etc) vs jump squats . . . only your doctor can really do a professional assessment. If not, just raise to your toes while lifting your arms instead of getting full lift. Rolling up from flat to toe and then rolling back down your foot is a lower impact move and involving your arms will raise your heart rate by about 20% (or so LesMills programs assert in the training material).

hairsprayhon

Thanks for the comments, next time I see my doctor I will get his opinion. Until then I will try the moving up on my toes move and if that doesn't seem to do anything, I will go back to just staying with the bar.
I am surprised by the Body Pump trainer who suggested that anyone who needed to modify should stay in the gym. My experience with Body Pump teachers is that they are very supportive and recognize that we all come with our own body issues and sometimes we need/want to modify.