Why do we lose our jump as we get older?
Remember jumping off the back step without thinking about it? For most adults, the last time they properly jumped was years ago. Then one day you hop off a ledge, land a bit heavy and realise the spring has gone.
The good news: a lot of that spring comes back with the right training.
Why do we lose the ability to jump as we get older?
Jumping needs power, which is strength produced quickly. As we age we tend to lose the fast-twitch muscle fibres that create power, and we lose them faster than general strength. Most of us also just stop doing anything fast. No sprinting, no jumping, no reacting.
Tendons get stiffer and less springy when they aren't loaded, and balance and confidence drop off too. Landing feels risky, so we avoid it, and the less we do it the harder it gets.
It's not only about age. It's mostly about what we stop doing.
Who should hold off on jumping for now?
Jumping isn't a starting point for everyone. Hold off for now if you:
are coming back from a lower-body injury or surgery and haven't been cleared by your physio
have pain in your knees, ankles, hips or back when you land, squat or go up stairs
are new to training and can't yet control a bodyweight squat or a step-down
are pregnant or postnatal and haven't had the go-ahead from your health professional
Holding off doesn't mean missing out. We build the strength and landing control first, then add the jump when you're ready.
How often do you put jumps into the program?
Jumps show up in our classes most weeks, and we program them in lots of different ways for different goals. A lot of the time they're not at the start of the session when you're fresh. They're often in the back end, inside the metcon, where you're jumping with some fatigue, just like real life.
Every jump can be modified, and the modification is there to progress you towards the full version, not just to make it easier. Step-ups, small hops, low box jumps or landing drills might be where you start, and your coach moves you forward as you're ready.
That's the bit that matters most. Our coaches take a tailored approach with every member in every class, backed by years and years of coaching experience. You won't be handed the same jump as the person next to you unless it's the right one for you.
Get your spring back
You don't need to jump like you did at 15. You just need to be able to move quickly and land well, because that's what keeps you steady when you miss a step or catch yourself on uneven ground.
If you're in Thornton or Maitland and want to start, our 1 Month Trial is $95 with no lock-in. Our coaches will show you where to begin.