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Bruce Bowers: Prof: Would value your thoughts on a
matter I have heard varied opinions on. What surface would you consider, for
optimum results in doing your plyometric training and would you use a different
surface for depth jumps than you would say for your bounding exercises. I have
the availability to do my training on a spring loaded gymnastic floor would this
be beneficial or counter productive. Also would depth jumps using a sand pit be
of any value.
Prof: Spassov: The question has to be divided into
two parts: The most effective surface and the safest one. If we are talking for
the most effective - it has to be as hard as it is possible. Remember the track
in Atlanta Olympic Games 1996, it was the hardest ever and this is one of the
explanations for such extraordinarily results, like Michel Johnson's 19.32 sec
in 200 m dash. On the other hand that kind of surface is difficult to be used
for workouts, because of the impact on the feet and the joints, bones and
tendons of the legs. That's why I would prefer for maximum benefit to use wood
floor, which is hard enough, but at the same time not as harmful. Anyway,
basketball, volleyball players, who do a lot of jumping, play their matches on
that kind of floor. For the safer one, definitely we have to prefer first of all
-grass fields, and then everything else. Success of any kind of plyomeric work
will depend from the circumstances how short the contact time is between the
feet and the ground after landing till take off. Therefore the softer the
surface is (including sand) the lighter is the impact of the jumps, because if
you stay longer time on the ground after landing and before take off you are
doing strength work, not explosive one, consuming only the negative part from
the plyometrics - the amortization phase. For the maximum effect, best results
can be reached through a variety of playometric work, in terms of how heavy and
fast it is. In this the number of the playometric jumps has to be included too. |
