Jan 29, 2015Accelerate Athleticism with Plyometric Rebounding
By Cassie Piercey
Medicine balls are great training tools to help develop explosive power, core stability, balance and coordination. An article in the August 2010 Strength & Conditioning Journal shows medicine ball exercises can help achieve angular specificity and stimulate tissues that may not be activated in typical strength and conditioning exercises. 
Plyometric medicine ball training should be an essential part of any sports conditioning program. Heavy med ball exercises drive power training and, when used in conjunction with a rebounder that offers multi-directional, high-velocity return, you can also increase agility and enhance functional and sport-specific performance.
The new Total Gym® PlyoRebounder®, by efi Sports Medicine®, allows for controlled, consistent – and “wall-less” – plyo-training that promotes core control in safe positions for the spine, trunk and extremities. Now, a double ring helps protect PlyoRebounder’s springs when using heavy med balls weighing 20 pounds or more, allowing athletic training and rehab professionals to expand their range of reaction training exercises.
Enhance athleticism with “true rebounding.” Regardless of the direction from which the medicine ball is thrown, it returns perpendicular and with the same angle and velocity from the rebounding surface. Users are required to catch the ball and follow through with corresponding deceleration to enhance quick and slow response plyometrics and hand-eye coordination. Or use a reaction ball with multiple clients or a medicine ball with multiple rebounders to create agility games that can challenge any athlete. User speed, range of motion, agility and quality of movement can improve at every level of function, including the highest performance levels.
Sports conditioning and rehab specialists at athletic training facilities, universities and with professional sports teams utilize rebounding for performing multi-planar exercises and deceleration training. The advantage is in the “return.” The speed in which the dry-filled medicine ball returns from the rebounder’s mat surface requires users to stabilize their core during the eccentric phase of catching to develop quick-response plyometrics and improve reaction time.
Total Gym PlyoRebounder adjusts to 11 positions, from flat to 50 degrees tilt, allowing for a range of seated, kneeling and standing positions and accepts heavy Olympic weights to keep it from “walking” during workouts. For more information, visit www.efisportsmedicine.com or call (800) 541-4900.
