Physiology Behind Plyometrics

Plyometrics are exercises that were at first known as jump training exercises. Plyo + metrics actually means measurable increases.

Power is a result of both speed and strength in a muscle and plyometrics link those 2 factors together. The fastest way to increase power in a muscle is through proper plyometrics training.

When you want to move a muscle, your brain sends a chemical reaction to the muscles. Some movements occur without any conscious effort on your part.

Good jumpers stay in contact with the ground for the shortest time possible. When you bend down before jumping you have energy stored in your legs and the more time you are on the ground means more time for that energy to be wasted in the form of heat.

So to teach people basketball 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.

Bending down before take off is often referred to as the loading phase. This loading phase is crucial to jumping higher because it gives the muscle more power.

Muscles can be compared to rubber bands to an extent. A stretched rubber band will go farther than a non-stretched rubber band.

Think about when you knee tendon is tapped and your leg kicks. The tendon was stretched which caused your muscles to react with a lot of power just as they basketball in the load phase of a jump.

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.

For more on how to increase vertical leap and how to jump higher.