What Is Plyometrics?

What Is Plyometrics?

Plyometrics, a method for developing greater speed and explosive power, is now very popular in the athletic and fitness fields, is exercise training whose aim is to be produce fast and powerful movement likewise improve the nervous system involved in these activities. 

It is based on the muscle/tendon stretch-shortening concept. This means that when a muscle/tendon is placed on involuntary forced stretch, it will contract (shorten) with greater force.

The forced stretch creates great tension in the muscle and tendon. The greater the load during the forced stretching and the quicker the load is applied, the greater is the energy accumulated. Energy for the reverse action is given back when the muscle and especially the tendon, undergo shortening to enable the action to occur. Jumps are used most frequently in plyometric training. On a jump down the loading forces a stretch and in the jump up, the muscle/tendon complex shortens.

The most significant aspect of plyometrics is how quickly the action is executed, usually in 0.15 – 0.20 seconds.

Plyometric exercise use explosive movement to develop muscular power the ability to generate large amount of force quickly, plyometric training acts on both the musculo - tendinous and neurological levels to increase an athlete’s power output without increasing this maximum strength output.

Plyometric exercises are specialized high intensity training techniques used to develop an athletic power (strength and speed). 

Involves high intensity, explosive muscular contraction that involves the stretch reflex.

The training is advanced intense and involve high impact exercise. It requires strength and endurance, so make sure build both with a complete program of both cardio and

strength training. 

Plyometric training was originally developed by Dr. Yuri Verkhoshansky during the 1970s in the former Soviet Union. 

His work was translated by Dr. Michael Yessis and brought to the United States, where it was first implemented by the U.S. Track & Field team.

Source: International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)