How To Jump Higher

Jumping exercises are now widely known by the term plyometrics. The actual words plyo and metrics stand for measurable increases.

The secret behind plyometrics is that it works with both the speed and power of a muscle to increase power. Plyometrics are exercises that focus on developing the most strength possible in the shortest amount of time.

Muscles respond to chemical reactions that are sent from the brain. When there is an eccentric movement your body responds without you even being aware.

One thing that has been noticed is how the best jumpers of all time are on the ground for a very short period of time before take off. This is because your body can actually lose power the longer that it is on the ground.

So to teach people how to jump higher you must focus on being in contact with the ground for a shorter period of time. This is why plyometrics exists, to teach muscles a faster reaction time.

Bending down before take off is often referred to as the loading phase. This loading phase is crucial to jumping higher because it gives the muscle more power.

Muscles behave in many ways like a rubber band. The more you stretch a rubber band the more power it will have when you let go.

Think about when you knee tendon is tapped and your leg kicks. The tendon was stretched which caused your muscles to react with a lot of power just as they do in the load phase of a jump.

A muscle contracts faster when being stretched first. You can't really change the speed of the stretch reflex with training but you can change the strength of the response, which will cause you to jump higher.