Jumping rope has several characteristics compared to other types of aerobic and cardio exercises. Whether it’s long rope (with others) or individual. One of its features is that it can be practiced in a small space, making it suitable for dry, hot areas where people are in air-conditioned spaces. It can also be practiced without being subject to the gazes of others or the need for open public places, the difficulty of moving in crowded streets, or even the security risks that might affect those who prefer to run in some places. Not to mention the additional difficulties women face in some countries when running or cycling. But the fundamental advantages are what prompted some researchers from many countries to test its effect on mood and mental health.

3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, known abbreviated as (MHPG), is a metabolic product of norepinephrine breakdown in the brain. When this substance increases, we infer from it an increase in norepinephrine. Japanese researchers[1] studied the effect of long-rope jumping on the increase of this substance by conducting tests on saliva and urine, as well as the other substance produced from serotonin metabolism, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). The researchers found an increase in these two substances in the urine after performing the exercise. The results indicate a relationship between the rise in MHPG and improved attention during long-rope jumping, suggesting that this sport stimulates central noradrenergic system activity and helps maintain attention.

Norepinephrine in the brain works to increase alertness and arousal, enhances vigilance, memory formation and retrieval, and focuses attention. We know that norepinephrine also increases anxiety, but we find in the study an increase in serotonin as well. We haven’t finished yet; there are more studies. It is wrong to draw general conclusions based on just one neurotransmitter or hormone.

Improvement in cognitive skills was found by another study conducted on 26 students who jumped for three minutes of jump rope exercises.[2] In another study, researchers used EEG technology after exercise via a varied jump pattern to study any potential effects associated with brain states coupled with an optimal state for learning. The researchers found that just three minutes of jump roping were enough to produce such an effect. [3]

Another study on school students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in China[4] found decreased stress levels and increases in both happiness and self-esteem according to questionnaires and criteria adopted by the study. But besides those criteria, the researchers measured salivary cortisol levels and found a decrease after practicing 30 minutes of jump rope three times a week. Cortisol decreased significantly after the jump rope exercise.

Finally, a study from Indonesia[5] conducted on 32 students divided into two groups, one of which performed jump rope for six weeks, used criteria to measure mood disorders before and after the study, and concluded that performing the exercises leads to a noticeable improvement in mood. The exercises lasted up to seven and a half minutes and included thirty seconds of jumping followed by a one-minute rest.

What distinguishes jump rope, as we see in the studies, is that the duration of the exercise session in more than one experiment was short. This is not found in running studies, which range between 50 to 150 minutes per week and 30 to 60 minutes per single training session. This is because jump rope exercises are considered high-intensity compared to other cardio exercises, in addition to requiring coordination between the movement of the hands and feet. The Japanese study drew our attention to an important point regarding the positive effects: that 14 out of 15 and 12 out of 15 showed noticeable increases in neurotransmitters. What about the others? Individual variation in response to exercise remains a topic needing further research.

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