How To Jump Higher | PLYOMETRIC TRAINING

The Fundamentals of Plyometric Training

Many atheletes use plyometric training as a means for them to reach their peak physical condition. When observed properly and regular, plyometrics training can help much in effectively developing your power. When combined with the appropriate kind of strength training program, you can easily achieve the kind of physical condition you have always dreamed of through plyometric training. But before we go deeper into the specifics of a plyometrics training program, it helps to learn more about what plyometrics is first.

Plyometrics is defined as a kind of exercise that helps our muscles reach their maximum force in the shortest time possible. This can be done through loading our muscles with an eccentric or lengthening action and immediately followed by a concentric or shortening action. Fitness experts propose two kinds of models that describe how plyometric training programs work.

First is the mechanical model wherein muscles and tendons create and store elastic energy through rapid stretching. The stored energy can be released when stretching is immediately followed by concentric muscle actions. The second one is the neurophysical model wherein involuntary and protective responses occur when the body detects quick stretches in the muscles. This stretch reflex response helps in keeping us from overstretching and injury. The stretch reflex also contributes in increasing the activities in our muscles that are undergoing eccentric muscle motion. In doing so, the muscles are able to act more forcefully. This results to a powerful braking effect, plus the potential to execute powerful shortening muscle actions.

There are many different kinds of plyometric training programs. There is plyometric strength training, plyometric circuit training, plyometric speed training, plyometric weight training, and upper body plyometric training. All these include different plyometric training drills that aim to develop specific physical fitness competencies. Weight training is often combined with plyometrics in complex sessions to develop not only muscle strength but also speed, agility, and power.

Plyometric training appears to be very helpful when it comes to giving you a complete body workout. However, there are still some who doubt the effectiveness of this kind of fitness training. Nevertheless, the simple drills that make up a plyometrics training program can help much in developing jumping skills, muscles groups, and motor performance. You can notice significant changes in all these areas even with just a small number of repetitions. Plyometric training appears to have lots of promise when it comes to total body workout. What you need to remember is when undertaking this kind of training, you must see to it that you do the drills properly and regularly to maximize the rewards.