People playing sports, particularly basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football, are frequently interested in finding a way to increase their vertical jump. There are many exercises and programs existing that are specifically designed for improving a person’s vertical leap. Before starting any of these programs though, a person ought to at least be in good general physical shape. Here we list a few exercises that you could begin with before undertaking a training program. These will help get you started.
Warm Ups
Before beginning the exercises, you should warm your muscles up. Jog 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 before exercising helps you develop muscle fibers that are used for jumping.
Skipping Rope
Skipping rope is an exercise that is often overlooked, and shouldn’t be, as it can contribute to increasing the strength of your legs. Moreover, it helps maintain excellent overall physical condition. Perform this exercise for fifteen to thirty minutes on a regular basis.
Knee Raises
Hold an overhead bar firmly, with your arms about shoulder-width apart. Hang from the overhead bar, with your arms fully extended and knees slightly bent. Hold this position and slowly raise your knees towards your chest. Squeeze your stomach muscles during this process. Maintain this position for a few seconds, before lowering your legs towards the floor. Repeat the process five times.
Knee Bends
One of the top exercises to increase the strength of your legs is with knee bends (also called squats). Stand in an upright position – straight, with chest out and keeping your back tight. Proceed to bend your knees slowly, keeping the back straight. Squat, in a slow motion, to the maximum possible extent. Repeat this process 20 times.
Toe Touches
Stand upright. Bend from the waist while keeping your knees locked. Continue bending down as far as you can go while trying to touch your toes with your fingers. Sustain this stance for a few seconds. This exercise should be done slowly and avoid “bouncing” while trying to touch your toes. Repeat this thirty times.
Sit-Ups
Sit-ups will 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, curl 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 your stomach doing the work. Exercises for your waist are important for all physical activity as your ultimate all around strength and flexibility start here. Repeat this exercise 10-20 times.
To get the most out of your vertical jumping exercises, you must think about a vertical jump training program. Check out these Vertical Jump Program Reviews to check which are rated the best and to get more information on Improving Your Vertical Jump.
Tags: how to jump higher, improve vertical jump, increase vertical jump, jumping exercises