Plyometric Exercises Up And Down

Everybody wants to perform better, play harder, be stronger. Well the professional athletes we all bet on have secrets that a lot of people have never even heard about.

These routines are called plyometric exercises. It wasn't until recently that trainers and health experts started to see the immense benefits of plyometric training.

Muscles work through contraction. When we lift weights we are building tolerance against that contraction, but if you want more power, not strength, but more explosive power you have to train with plyos.

Plyos (short for plyometrics) are going to train your muscles to react and contract fast. This is what is going to make you throw the football further, or jump the hurdle higher, or whatever it is you are training for.

Weight training and muscle building may make certain things easier, but a lot of the time they do not enhance in game performance. That is what plyos are made for.

Throwing a football 100 meters isn't done by curling fifty pounds a day, but by learning to use your triceps to their maximum potential. Some great upper body plyos are easily done at home.

The first is the push up hand clap. The trick with these is to do them fast; you are not trying to tear and build muscle, you are trying to train your muscles to react.

You have probably seen these done on television shows where the ex-military soldier needs to find and beat the antagonist, but first he must train. These exercises are going to do a lot for you.

The number one must underappreciated muscle in the whole body, the triceps. These are the muscles that are going to give you a fast and powerful punch and a far throw.

You can also train with a medicine ball. Lie on your back and throw the ball into the air and catch it, as soon as you catch it try to throw it as high as you can again.

Plyos are meant to be done fast, so don't dilly-dally otherwise you will be tearing the muscle and building rather than enhancing. Most plyometric practitioners are runners; these sprinters are all looking for an edge over their opponents.

If you want a good fast start here is what you have to do. Do squat jumps.

Yes they sound like exactly what they are. Do a squat slow and controlled and as soon as you hit the low point of your squat jump as high as you can into the air.

Land and slowly lower yourself back into a squat and repeat this exercise over and over. This is one of the best workouts to increase your vertical with.

Start incorporating plyometrics in with your regular workout routine and you will notice a drastic change in your performance and skill level.

Destry Masterson is a health, fitness and nutrition expert. She has written articles about exercise and recommends http://www.proform.com for information about exercise equipment. Contact Info: Destry Masterson - MyOnlineArticleWriting@gmail.com - Twitter: @DestryMasterson