What is plyometrics?

Speed and strength are integral components of fitness found in varying degrees in virtually all athletic movements. Simply put, the combination of speed and strength, is power. For many years, coaches and athletes have sought to improve power in order to enhance performance. Throughout this century and no doubt long before, jumping, bounding, and hopping exercises have been used in various ways to enhance athletic performance. In recent years, this distinct method of training for power or explosiveness has been termed plyometrics.

Plyometrics is any exercise where the muscle is stretched (loaded) before it is contracted. A good example is push-ups with a clap between each push-up. Your muscles (pectorals in this case) are elongated and loaded by the downward force of your body, then immediately you must contract the muscles to push yourself back up.

Muscle Mechanism

There are three types of muscle contractions:

Eccentric in which the muscle lengthens under tension. It is used to decelerate the body.

Isometric occurs when the body comes to a complete halt.

Concentric is a shortening contraction used to reaccelerate the body.

When a wrestler drives for a takedown, he may initiate his motion with a backward step, which "loads" the back leg muscles as they stretch in an eccentric contraction. The eccentric contraction of his leg muscles decelerates his body as the contracting muscle stretches and lengthens as "loads" the muscles. For an instant the muscles are in isometric contraction in preparation for an explosive concentric contraction as the leg drives forward for a successful takedown. It is important to remember that the rapid stretch of the muscle must be followed by an immediate rapid concentric contraction. Any delay will result in this stored energy being lost

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