Plyometric exercises are beneficial for increasing your speed, strength and overall endurance. They allow you to push your muscles to the limit quickly, letting you see great results in little time.
What Are Plyometric Exercises?
While plyometric exercises are popular with seasoned athletes, they can also be performed by people who regularly exercise or want to improve their fitness. Since these types of exercises can be tough on tendons and ligaments, it’s recommended that they’re only performed by people with an appropriate strength and fitness level to prevent injury.
But beware – plyometric exercises are far from relaxed. You should expect to sweat a lot and get your heart rate up!
What Are The Benefits of Plyometric Training?
One of the best things about plyometric training is that little to no equipment is required, allowing you to perform them at the gym or in the comfort of your home. Plyometric training is designed to increase your overall power and muscle strength, allowing you to improve your jumping and running abilities. That’s why it’s such a popular training method for athletes looking to increase their speed.
Plyometrics do more than just tone your body; they help you burn calories too. They’re great for improving your metabolism and cardiovascular health and are a great way to release endorphins when exercising.
Plyometric training is also helpful when it comes to improving your flexibility. Since these types of exercises stretch your muscles so thoroughly, you can expect to be able to move better than before. This helps prevent injury while loosening your body up.
Types of Plyometric Exercises
Since plyometric exercises involve explosive movements, the following exercises should be incorporated into your routine if you’re looking to take part in plyometric training.
- Box jumps
- Jump rope
- Lunges
- Jump squats
- Burpees
- Tuck jumps
- Skipping
- Bounding
- Clap push-ups
- Reverse lunge knee-ups
These movements require lots of energy and stamina. Make sure you feel energetic, awake and well before taking part.
Things To Keep in Mind
While plyometric training has countless benefits, it’s essential to keep a few things in mind before engaging in these exercises. Always complete a warm-up of at least 10 minutes before participating in plyometrics to ensure your body is loosened up and ready to go. If you fail to warm up before these muscle-building activities, it could result in serious injury.
It’s also crucial to ensure your form is right and that your body is in the correct alignment when performing these exercises. It can be helpful to watch yourself in the mirror or to get help from a trusted professional to ensure you’re doing each exercise correctly.
Conclusion
If you already have an established workout routine and are looking to spruce things up, consider adding plyometric training to your overall regime. Known for growing muscle, burning calories and increasing speed, plyometric exercises could take your overall fitness capabilities to the next level. Give them a try today!
