Vertical Jump Tip: Increase Flexibility

Athletes need speed. They need size, strength and ability. Many amateur and professional athletes seek to increase their performance in a particular sport by increasing their vertical jump. The vertical is an instrumental part of the NFL combine and is a strong indicator of athletic ability.

Also, a greater jump usually means greater performance on the athletic stage. Athletes often looking to strengthen their legs to increase their vertical, but they should not overlook stretching. Stretching is vital in any sport and instrumental to athletic success. It is equally important to athletes looking to jump higher. Jumping involves the stretching and storing of energy in the muscles. Athletes that lack sufficient flexibility will be limited in their ability to jump high. The muscles need to be able to flex and stretch enough to create sufficient energy to propel the body up. Before working out, it is important for athletes to perform warm up drills that loosen the legs. Exercises like lunges and body squats can help.

It is important not to rush through these exercises but do them thoroughly with a good range of motion. This will help stretch the muscles. After a workout, athletes should always stretch to prevent injury and increase flexibility. Do this and your vertical jump will increase.