Did you know was when gymnasts do their floor exercises, they are doing tumbling and the like on a floor that has springs underneath?
Literally. The physical therapist told me that the competition floor sits on top of a lot of springs.
I mean, good for them, but then I began to wonder, when did this become a rule as opposed to a cheat? (Like the designated hitter.)
Evidently it was deemed cool in competition to get a little extra spring in your handspring in 1979. However, the Olympics play fast and loose with what years they use the springs. No springs under the floor in Barcelona in 1992, for example, just foam.
Some dance floors have spring floors, like dance floors at embassies, and when I heard that, I checked – the House of Blues has a spring floor, which explains its terrifying bounciness when I visited in 2013.
5 responses to “TWIL: Spring floor”
Floors with some give to them are *SO* much kinder to the knees. I’ve wished I could install them at home…
That said, it needs to be well-done, not a collective trampoline!
KC -well, that link does give pretty specific directions. You could install it at home.
One would need the extra space between subfloor and ceiling, however… also a willingness to pay that much. I possess neither at this time.
KC – what about a budget outdoor version? Strip the fabric from some coil sprjng matresses, line them up outside, and put plywood on top.
Maybe if I ever own a generously-tall basement.