To excel in any sport, athletes need to focus on strength and conditioning off field in order to enhance specific athletic parameters, which will benefit them in their sport/position. Fitness parameters such as strength, endurance, balance and flexibility are common in most training programs. Athletes can also benefit from plyometric exercises, which involve quick actions like jumping, hopping, and bounding. These exercises are essential for developing power, speed, agility and prevention of injuries. WHAT are plyometric exercises? WHY should you do them? And HOW can you integrate them into your training?
Note: Sheddon’s physiotherapists from the Oakville and Burlington Physio Clinics are prepared and determined to help you get back to the sport you like.
WHAT are plyometric exercises?
Think about all the great natural movements you did as a kid, such as jumping onto and off of things, skipping, leaping, and hopping. These are the types of movements involved in plyometrics. More specifically, they are quick, explosive movements using maximum force repeated for short intervals.
WHY should you start doing them?
There are a number of great benefits to integrating plyometrics into your training. Research has shown that athletes who engage in plyometrics will have greater improvements in performance than players who simply focus on practice and games alone. Improvements include:
- Increased ball striking speed;
- Improved change of direction ability;
- Increased acceleration;
- Increased muscular power;
- Increased kicking distance;
- Improved agility;
- Increase in joint awareness;
- Injury prevention (especially ACL in young females)
HOW do you integrate them into your training program?
Plyometric exercises are not for beginners, as you should have a certain level of basic fitness first. Plyometrics combine strength and speed in order to develop max force over a short period of time. Therefore, the athlete needs to have a basic level of general strength and proper technique in movements such as squats prior to initiating these exercises. Below you will find some important practical considerations on where to start:
- Most sports are multidirectional, therefore if you are looking to improve overall performance, you must include different exercises such as vertical (i.e., box jumps) and horizontal jumps (i.e., standing long jumps), as well as unilateral and bilateral drills. If you are interested in improving only certain aspects of your fitness, then the exercises should be specific to your performance goals. For example, if your goal is to increase running speed, choosing exercises such as bounding will have more gains than box jumps.
- As with all exercises, QUALITY is key over QUANTITY. Proper technique is key for injury prevention and performance gains.
- Follow an 8-10 week program, 2 days/week, with a 72-hour rest period in between training sessions in order to see the best gains.
- Exercise sessions should last 10-20 minutes, and the best time is at the beginning of practice, after the initial warm up.
- 3-4 plyometric exercises should be performed, 2-4 sets, for 6-15 reps per training session. DO NOT use extra weight. Body weight is sufficient, as added weight will NOT increase performance gains.
- Avoid injury by ensuring the athlete is landing softly and with proper technique. Make sure whatever you are jumping onto/over is stable and not too high. Also make sure the exercise surface is safe (avoid concrete and uneven surfaces), grass or turf is safest.
At Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic we work with coaches and trainers to make sure that injured athletes are properly rehabbed. We also play a role in injury prevention and enhancing performance gains so athletes can bring their game to the next level. Whether you’re returning from an injury, want to prevent future injuries or just want to improve your performance, chat with a therapist at Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinics in Oakville and Burlington about which exercises are best for you.
Bedoya et al., (2015). Plyometric training effects on athletic performance in youth soccer athletes: A systematic review. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning. 29,8, 2351-2360.
Wang et al., (2016). Effects of Plyometric Training on Soccer Players (Review). Experimental and Theurapeutic Medicine. 550-554.
For more info, contact Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinics Oakville Burlington at 905-849-4576.
We are located less than 10 min from Sheridan College Oakville and 4 min East from Oakville & Milton Humane Society.
The Burlington physio clinic is located only 8 min north-east of LaSalle Park and 10 min north of Burlington Golf & Country Club, on Plains Rd East.