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Lately, the term plyometrics has been turning up a lot in fitness magazines. Unfortunately, its most often being suggested as a way to “Turbo Charge” your workouts.
Plyometrics is a term used to describe a group of exercises that are typically explosive and high velocity in nature. A good example would be stepping off a 12 inch box then landing and jumping high into the air, as quickly as possible.
If you are trying to decide whether or not to include plyometrics in your workout program, please remember the golden rule of designing an exercise program - Make sure the exercises you pick help you reach the goal you are striving for!
Plyometrics are an excellent form of exercise for developing explosive power. They are also very advanced exercises and should only be performed with the assistance of a certified strength and conditioning coach. Too much volume or incorrect form in these exercises could cause injuries.
For this reason we only recommend the addition of plyometrics into your workout program if you have been taught the proper form and if the goal of your workout program is to help you develop explosive power.
If your goal is to lose fat and/or gain muscle, plyometrics are probably not the most ideal exercises. Quite frankly, other exercises could be substituted for plyometrics that would give better results, leading to a more efficient use of time!
Be careful of what you read in magazines (and on websites for that matter). They are a great place to find new exercises to add to your workout, and adding variety to your workout is often a good idea. Just remember to apply some common sense. Ask yourself if the exercise will help you reach your current goals. If the answer is yes, try it out; if the answer is no, then save if for later when your goals are different.
Source: www.grrlathlete.com
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