There are many different training methods used by athletes world-wide including: Interval, continuous, weight etc. However, plyometrics tends to be overlooked. Plyometrics focus on quick, explosive movements that are created to enhance an athletes speed and power in their play. Most affective for sports that require fast anaerobic episodes such as sprints but also within team sports such as Basketball where a quick drive or an explosive sprint to the basket.
Plyometrics include
- The eccentric phase, this is where there is rapid muscle lengthening movement
- It is then followed by the amortization phase which is a short resting period
- Then finally finishing off with the concentric phase where there is an explosive muscle shortening movement.
- It helps reduce the chance of injuries. Injuries are real career breakers and can destroy an athletes career. Plyometrics help build large masses of muscles and strengthen the joints. As you build more muscles for example your quadriceps and hamstrings it automatically gives more protection towards your ACL ligament found in your knee. This is important for athletes that play sports that are very tough on the knee’s such as running, basketball, football e.t.c
- It burns more calories. Not only will you be able to burn more calories during a workout involving plyometrics but your resting metabolic rate will be increased therefore your body is more capable of burning more calories during the day and even more calories during your workouts
- No equipment needed. Which is a huge pro, this is because many exercises require a large area for exercises to be completed or lots of equipment is required. All you need in your body weight, no need to pay for a gym membership!
EXAMPLES OF PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES
- Squat jumps
- Burpees
- Box jumps
- Depth jumps