People involved in athletics, particularly basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer, are frequently looking for ways to improve their vertical leap. There are many exercises and programs available that are specially designed for improving a person’s jumping ability. Before starting any of these programs though, you ought to at least be in good general physical shape. Here we go over a few exercises that you could begin with before starting a training program. These will help get you started.
Warm Ups
Before beginning the exercises, you need to warm up your muscles. Try jogging around for ten minutes or run up and down s few sets of stairs. It is also a sound idea to stretch your muscles prior to exercising. Warming up prior to exercising helps you develop muscle fibers that are utilized for jumping.
Skipping Rope
Jumping rope is an exercise that is often overlooked, and shouldn’t be, as it will contribute to increasing the strength of your legs. Moreover, it promotes maintaining excellent cardiovascular condition. Do this exercise for 15 to 30 minutes regularly.
Knee Raises
Grab an overhead bar securely, with your arms straight overhead. Hang from the overhead bar, with your arms fully extended and knees bent slightly. Hold this position and slowly pull your knees up to your chest. Concentrate on contracting your stomach muscles during this process. Hold this position for a few seconds, before lowering your legs back down. Repeat the process five times.
Knee Bends
One of the top exercises to improve the strength of your legs is with knee bends (also called squats). Stand upright – straight, with chest out and with your back straight. Now, bend your knees slowly, maintaining a straight back. Crouch, in a slow movement, as far down as possible. Repeat this process 20 times.
Toe Touches
Stand straight. Bend at the waist while keeping your knees locked. Lower yourself down as far as you can go and try to touch your toes with your fingers. Hold this position for a few seconds. This exercise should be done slowly and avoid “bouncing” while trying to touch your toes. Do this 30 times.
Sit-Ups
Sit-ups can help improve your vertical leap. Begin with with your back flat on the floor, with your legs bent at the knees, and your feet flat on the floor. Place you hands behind your head. Now, lift the shoulders off the floor, in a slow motion. Continue to sit up. Do not “pull” on the back of your head with your hands. Concentrate on making your stomach do the work. Exercises for your midsection are crucial for all physical activity as it is the “core” area of your body. Repeat this 10-20 times.
To get the most out of your vertical jumping exercises, you should think about a vertical jump training program. Check out these Vertical Jump Program Reviews to check which are rated the best and to find more information on How To Jump Higher.
Tags: how to jump higher, improve vertical jump, increase vertical jump, jumping exercises