Plyometric Training For Beginners

Athletes use plyometric training to increase their power for jumps, quick cuts and sprinting. But you don't have to be involved in team sports to realize benefits from doing fast-paced sets of jumps. Plyometrics makes a great change up for a stale cardio routine, and an article published in Muscle & Performance magazine offers some tips for beginners who are just getting started.

The article suggests a 5 to 10 minute warm up of light cardio and/or dynamic stretching which would transition into movements mimicking the motions of the jumps you about to perform. Practice using your muscles to cushion the landing rather than allowing your joints to sustain the full impact. A good starting point would be 6 quick jumps followed by about a minute of rest. After you've finished the last set, give yourself a 5 to 10 minute cool down period before taking on another challenge. You can adjust the intensity of this challenge as you get used to amount of time needed for recovery.