Plyometric training is very important when you are an athlete. Engaging in active sports would require you to be able to move quickly and powerfully. In plyometrics, you are not only training your muscles, you are also training your brain. You see, when you are trying to extend and contact you muscles at a rapid rate, you would need you nervous system to be able to send quick signals to your brain to do just that. You get a two in one benefit when you engage in plyometrics. However, since you would be placing great stress to your muscles and tendons, it is important to know how to perform these exercises safely.

There are a lot of factors to consider if you want to engage in plyometric exercises in a safe manner. Age is a major factor. As we grow older, our bones and tendons grow more and more brittle. It is best to consult with a medical professional first before trying these out. You do not want to injure yourself in the process. Pre-adolescents should also be very careful since they are undergoing a lot of hormonal changes in their bodies.

Another factor to consider would be technique. Erroneous performance could lead to grave injuries. Make sure that you have a well-trained professional guiding you through your exercises when you first try them out. Trying them out on your own might be very dangerous. As you know, these exercises are intense and done in a quick and repetitive manner. This places great stress on your muscles and tendons. Without proper knowledge, you could easily tear something apart and might reduce you to bed rest for a few days.

It is highly recommended that you do only a maximum of one hundred repetitions a day, and this is already in the advanced level. One also should not do plyometrics daily. Your body needs to rest to repair itself. Instead, why not try doing light stretching exercises? Yoga would be a great alternative because it is not as strenuous and would even allow your body and mind to relax while you perform the positions.

Plyometrics in itself is not really dangerous. However, precautions must be observed because of the intensity that it involves. Proper knowledge and supervision is needed when trying it out for the first time. Also, muscular wasting might result from too much working out with not enough rest and nutrition. Make sure that you get enough rest and eat the right kind of food when engaging in plyometrics.