What Causes You To Jump Higher?

Basketball players and track and field high jumpers seem to fly through the air. Would-be athletes would like to be able to jump like these sports standouts, touching their heads on basketball rims or clearing 6 feet on the track. The causes of these jumping skills stem from a combination of hard work and genetics.

  1. Muscle Types

    • The body's muscles are divided into Type I and Type II muscles. Type I muscles (slow twitch) are used for stability and moving light objects, such as a pencil. The body uses Type II muscles (fast twitch) when a good deal of strength or quickness is involved. Individuals who can jump high will train to increase the "fast twitch" Type II muscles.

    Nervous System

    • The body's nerves attach to the muscles, and the point of attachment is called a motor unit. The motor units respond to different speeds of training. If you train as fast as possible, you increase the speed of muscle contractions, thus increasing vertical leaps.

    Relative Strength

    • One aspect of increasing the height of jumps is relative strength. Defined, relative strength is the amount of force the body can produce that exceeds body weight. If an individual weighs 150 lbs and can produce 200 lbs. of force during a jump, then he has 50 lbs. of relative strength. Increasing the amount of force on the jump, such as going from 200 to 250 lbs., can cause you to jump higher.

    Flexibility

    • The muscles work much like shooting rubber bands. The speed and distance of the rubber band's flight is dependent upon how far it is stretched. Human muscles stretch and propel when they contract. The height of jumps increases with the increase of flexibility in the leg muscles.

    Functional Exercises

    • The body can jump off one leg or two legs, and in multiple directions. Athletes train functionally, meaning they train with exercises that simulate competition. For example, basketball players jump on boxes with a ball in their hands. Repetition creates an enhancement in bodily movements, which results in athletic improvements.