Plyometric Exercises

Plyometric exercises can help to increase explosive power and speed maximising muscle force. During a Plyometric exercise muscles exert maximum force in short intervals activating a rapid stretch shortening action. Plyometric exercises can really enhance athletic performance.

For older adults adding Plyometric exercises into an exercise routine benefits healthy aging by increasing muscular power. Muscular power is a combination of strength and speed of contraction. This has been shown as a stronger predictor of mortality than muscular strength in older adults. Muscular power can help to prevent falls and improve dynamic movements like rising from a chair fast rather than slowly.

Examples of Plyometric exercises include:

• For lower body - squat jumps, hopping, bounding, box jumps, side jumps and skipping with a rope

• For upper body - medicine ball throws and catching, wall ball throws, chest passes and clap press ups