Plyometrics is a special kind of exercise, that helps in preventing muscular and skeletal disorders. Also known as “plyos” or “jump training”, it is an exercise that involves recurring and speedy stretching and contracting the muscles, and is very useful for increasing the strength, power and skills of the muscles, in short intervals of time. Plyometrics is more commonly practised by athletes, particularly sports persons related to martial art, sprint and high jumper. Initially put into practice by the Soviet Olympians in the 1950s, the word “plyometrics” was coined by Fred Wilt, a former long distance runner from the US Olympic Games. Wilt collaborated with trainer Michael Yessis, with the motto of promoting this very beneficial physical exercise for athletes, after he saw Soviet athletes prepare for track and field events in the Olympics.

Any athlete, including plyometrics in their training regime, can visibly notice difference and  development in their skills and prowess. Plyometrics include the following kind of exercises that are highly beneficial for athletes, such as:

1. Squat Jump
2. Tuck Jump
3. Tuck Squat Jump
4. Lateral Jump
5. Power Skipping
6. Alternate Leg Bounding
7. Box Jump
8. Vertical Depth Jumps
9. Broad Jump
10. Plyometric push ups

There are multiple benefits of plyometrics, as found out by expert coaches and mentors. It enhance the explosive powers, flexibility, and reduces the risk of getting wounded or injury during your game. Some of the benefits of plyometrics are as follows:

• It enhances the strength of muscles as repeated explosive actions, because the muscles first get into a stretched position or eccentric segment, and then they get into the a contracted position or the concentric segment. This happens very rapidly and so, plyometrics is gaining a fair share of significance among trainers and athletes alike, because the rapid muscle movement increases speed, skills, prowess and flexibility.
• Plyometrics is a complex kind of physical exercise. It trains the neuromascular system to synchronize the movements. This enhanced synchronization helps in the execution of sports specific skills, especially badminton, golf, tennis, soccer etc.
• Plyometrics is very effective in reducing the scope of injury of the muscles, ligaments, tissues and tendons. It also affects joint stability, which is very essential for any high intensity sport like athletics, golf swings, tennis etc.
• Plyometric exercises require a great amount of concise timing, and this is a key agent in increasing neuromascular control. Thus, it helps in growth of balance of the muscles and tissues.
• It is a major exercise that enhances the output of power that one can put during any sport, or any activity in general. Thus, the strength gained from plyometric exercises deeply impacts the functional fitness and athletic performance of any athlete.
• Plyometric exercises helps in monitoring and assessing a player’s overall progress in terms of training and fitness by making the players follow a strict and complex regime and enhances the power of endurance.

Plyometric exercise is dynamic in nature and aligns with the goal of functional fitness very suitably. It is a very effective tool that helps in the overall improvement of physical performance. Incorporating plyometric exercises into a holistic fitness coaching regime has substantial benefits in functional capacity and everyday physical skills in a multiple ways. It is a balanced fitness regime that ensures a great future for aspiring sports persons.