How to Jump Higher
Plyometrics are exercises that were at first known as jump training exercises. Plyo + metrics actually means 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.
When you brain tells your muscle to fire it does so by sending nerve impulses to the muscle fibers which causes a chemical reaction. When you bend down prior to jumping, your muscles react without any conscious thought on your part.
One thing that has been noticed is how the best jumper 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.
A muscle has more energy if it is stretched immediately prior to it contracting. This is why dropping down before you jump will actually cause you to jump higher.
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.
An example of how our muscles react to stretching is the knee test. When the patella tendon under the knee cap is tapped, your muscle will react with power with no conscious thought on your part.
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.
