• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

AFA Asia

The new generation of fitness professional

Menu
  • Home
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Vietnam
  • Thailand
  • Fitness Hub
  • Job Board
AFA Asia
Singapore
Singapore
Philippines
Malaysia
Vietnam
Thailand
Indonesia
Other
Australia

Principles of Plyometric Exercises

Home/ Fitness Hub /Principles of Plyometric Exercises
April 15, 2022
  • Personal Training

Plyometric exercises are a training method that are dynamic and explosive in nature. The exercise aims to train the force and speed of the muscles, producing characteristics of the muscles through the stretch–shortening cycle (SSC).

The types of movements involve rapid explosive concentric movements, preceded by eccentric contractions. These explosive movements elicit enhanced force production from the stretch–shortening cycle.

Plyometric exercises are commonplace in training plans of athletes in sports and events that involve throwing, jumping and sprinting. These types of sports and exercises require an element of speed combined with strength, which is best trained through plyometric exercises.

The types of training activities for plyometric training involves bounding, hopping, jumping, sprinting and throwing movements.

THE STRETCH–SHORTENING CYCLE

Plyometric exercises use components of the stretch–shortening cycle to facilitate strength and power. These physiological components include:

  1. Series Elastic Component:

As a muscle lengthens during an eccentric contraction it produces and then stores elastic energy. If the muscle then quickly contracts concentrically the stored elastic energy that has been generated can be transferred and added to the force of the concentric contraction, making it more explosive and powerful.

  1. Stretch Reflex:

Activation of the sensory organs within the muscle (Muscle Spindles) during a quick eccentric contraction, initiates a reflexive concentric contraction of the same muscle. This involuntary reflex adds strength and power to the concentric contraction of a movement.

stretch-reflex-img

To activate the stretch shortening cycle, plyometric exercises involve 3 phases:

  1. Eccentric (counter movement)
  2. Amortisation (pause between eccentric and concentric phases)
  3. Concentric (explosive contraction)

If the duration of the Amortisation phase is too long, stored energy is lost. Ground contact time must be reduced for maximal effect.

Common plyometric activities include:

  • Hops
  • Jumps
  • Leaps
  • Bounds
  • Depth Jumps
  • Split Lunges
  • Box Jumps
  • Explosive Push Ups
  • Medicine Ball Throws

PLYOMETRIC GUIDELINES

Due to its advance nature, the following guidelines should be considered when prescribing and instructing plyometric exercises:

  • Athletes require excellent levels of existing strength and athletic conditioning, plus good technique and understanding of drills.
  • Conduct a thorough warm up
  • Perform on a soft surface – firm, but forgiving
  • Enforce correct landing technique to absorb forces
  • 1 to 2 sessions per week is ample (no more than 20 minutes per session is needed)
  • Maximum speed and effort are required
  • Consider impact on weight bearing joints
  • Minimise ground contact time
  • Load on the body is high – pay attention to amount of contacts, calculate load by measuring difficulty of drill by amount of repeats to a measure of volume

 

If you enjoyed learning about this, and want to expand your knowledge on a whole range of fitness related subjects, then studying the Certified Personal Trainer would be perfect for you. Enquire below for more information.

Singapore
  • About
  • Courses
  • Resources
  • Employment
Philippines
  • About
  • Courses
  • Resources
  • Employment
Vietnam
  • About
  • Courses
  • Resources
  • Employment
Thailand
  • About
  • Courses
  • Resources
  • Employment
Copyright ©2022 - Australian Fitness Academy Asia
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Notice
  • Job Board
  • Fitness Hub
Web Design by iCreate Agency