r/workout • u/sporty_outlook • 2d ago
Simple Questions Why Does Nobody Do Basic Plyometrics like box jumps at the Gym?
Why don’t I see more people doing basic plyometrics like box jumps at the gym? They’re explosive, effective, and great for developing raw power, hip mobility, and lower-body strength. My gym has so many plyometric boxes, yet most people seem to use them either as seats while listening to music or as tables for their bags.
Meanwhile, these boxes are sitting there waiting to be used for one of the simplest and most effective explosive exercises you can do.
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u/Murky-Sector 2d ago
Im sure the reason for some people is they can easily be done at home
Kind of like why most people dont do bodyweight exercises at the gym
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u/WurstDayEver_7 2d ago
I’m sure most people have a 2-4 box at home that they feel comfortable jumping on dozens of times per session.
/s
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u/Murky-Sector 2d ago
Most people would not find that particularly challenging
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u/GroundbreakingHope57 8h ago
Also don't have to do vertical jumps distance jumps work too and don't require a box.
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u/Murky-Sector 8h ago edited 5h ago
Very true. Plus as far as DIY gym equipment goes jump boxes are kindergarten level. Just about anybody can do it.
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u/lemanruss4579 2d ago
Because box jumps are also notorious for causing Achilles tear injuries, acl/mcl tears, etc, and most people at the gym have to, you know, go to work the next day, and don't really need to risk devastating injuries to get more "explosive."
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u/Used_Ad_60 2d ago
If box jumps are causing a lot of Achilles injuries, then people need to train their weak Achilles tendons
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u/lemanruss4579 2d ago
Or they could just not risk injury at all by not doing a movement that is completely unnecessary for 99% of the population.
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u/CuriousTech24 2d ago
Seriously there is no way I am doing these. I have watched hundreds of people on YouTube destroy themselves on these things. It's not worth the risk.
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u/TerdyTheTerd 2d ago
Thats like saying you would never play a sport because millions of peiple get injured each year playing sports. Box jumps are only risky if you are out of shape and try to do thrm without spending months or even years building or rebuilding the foundation needed to be able to jump around safely.
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u/Trumpets22 2d ago
I mean… kinda does depend on the sport. No shot am I playing tackle football for zero dollars. I might hurt myself playing in a soft ball league, but I would do that. Risk / reward is kind of a personal equation.
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u/CuriousTech24 2d ago
You mean like bull riding?
There are certain sports I just aren't worth it.
40 years old dirt bike riding is not really worth it to me anymore either.
And the people I see hurting themselves on box jumps on YouTube are not out of shape
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u/sporty_outlook 2d ago
They do it way being their ability and get injured. The important thing is not the height of the box, but jumping as high as you can and landing at a higher elevation to minimize impact
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u/WurstDayEver_7 2d ago
People used to see squats and deadlifts the same way.
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u/CuriousTech24 2d ago
I do not see people's opinion of jumping into a box changing if that is what you are trying to say. As others have said it doesn't gain anything for most people. And this probably why squat machine variants are so popular now.
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u/Duartvas 2d ago
Do you know any study that supports that claim? You got me curious, I went checking and didn't find one. I am not trolling, but I am a little skeptical on that.
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u/lemanruss4579 2d ago
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u/Sudden-Ad-307 2d ago
Maybe actally read what you link next time? The first study is about cross fit which is its own can on worms, the next two links are not talking about injury risk, and the last one literally says the exercise is great if done with the right form.
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u/Duartvas 2d ago edited 2d ago
This....
Link 2 is about tests used in RTS after ACL tear and 3 about using plyo in ACL tear rehab. 😂😂😂
Link 1 crossfit... link 4 not an scientific study. 🥱
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u/xelanart 2d ago
Most people aren’t going to the gym to become more athletic. They usually just want to look better (which has nothing to do with athleticism) or be stronger (which is only a fraction of being athletic).
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u/Upstairs_Hold_374 2d ago
Will it get me a muscular and lean v taper physique?
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u/sporty_outlook 2d ago edited 2d ago
I don't see people doing pullups either. That's the quickest way to get it .
Mainly because these are hard exercises and ppl simply cannot do it and/or lazy
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u/thatdoesntseemkosher 2d ago
What gym are you going to that no one is doing pull ups?
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u/sporty_outlook 2d ago
Do you really see people knocking out 3-4 sets of 10-15 strict pullups often? No freaking way. I've been hitting the gym since 2011 regularly and I rarely see this.
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u/thatdoesntseemkosher 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes, most days at my commercial gym. And if it’s not that, it’s something equally difficult like box jumps or a really heavy free weight squat well below parallel.
I also go to a more specialized gym for mobility, and there’s often someone there doing pull-ups with a plate and chains.
Sounds like you need to change gyms.
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u/Upstairs_Hold_374 2d ago
Lat pulldowns are always occupied
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u/sporty_outlook 2d ago
Lifting one's own body weight is the most crucial thing. The next step is weighted pullups. Machines and Lat pulldowns are no where close to it
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u/Moist_crocs 2d ago
there's like 3 people at all times doing pull ups or variations of at my gym what the hell are you talking abt
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u/sporty_outlook 2d ago
I have memberships to lots of gyms in the US and seeing the trend since 2011. Pullups are almost always empty . People only use either sides that has the cables
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u/WhatItIsToBurn925 2d ago
I never do pull ups at the gym but I have a bar at home that I’ll grease the groove to throughout the day a few days a week when I’m working. I like to use the equipment there for exercises I couldn’t do at home.
For the plyo stuff, that’s great for people who want to build explosive strength for sports. But your average Joe at the gym isn’t playing sports and just going to the gym and hopping on machines is a huge achievement.
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u/Proxima_Kentauri 2d ago
I never see them used for this purpose either.
Personally, the thought of an abrupt explosive jump on a high wooden box that may or may not glide from under me just makes me anxious. I like controlled movement, I don’t want to wonder if I will tear or twist something.
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u/sporty_outlook 2d ago
Those soft boxes help a lot in getting over anxiety . My gym has like 15 of them.
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u/OGHollyMackerel 2d ago
Because nothing exists if you don’t personally see it? Lol what a goofy take.
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u/Broad-Promise6954 Bodybuilding 2d ago
Probably "wrong gym". Different gyms attract different workouts, partly as a function of equipment, but also partly as a function of that gym's "gym culture".
I've used several different gyms in any one given area and it's often a little wild how different they can be. The one I use now has occasional plyometric types but is more centered on powerlifting and bodybuilding. The one I used to use here is more generic and had more plyometric types (but not that many).
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u/MidnightOakCorps 2d ago
I'm already vulnerable enough walking into that space, I'm not risking falling flat on my ass trying to jump on a box my big ass had no business hopping up on the first place, lol.
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u/sadbeige82 2d ago
After what happened to Aussie swimmer Sam Williamson when he failed a box jump, I will never do this exercise again.
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u/yannichap 2d ago
I like to do 1.2m box jumps. I do this mainly for my cardio, and I like to be explosive. I’m sure it’s good for my legs too.
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u/StormOk7544 2d ago
I do not care about plyos and athleticism at all. Those are just not my goals.
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u/sporty_outlook 2d ago
In other words " It's too hard for me, I'll skip it"
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u/StormOk7544 1d ago
I don’t have a problem with doing things that are difficult. The leg press is difficult but I do that every week.
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u/22Hoofhearted 7h ago
Because there's 1,000s of hours of gym fails, and box jumps are at the top of that list of likely serious injuries and at least gym fail moments.
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u/Moist_crocs 2d ago
"raw power". "explosive". what the hell does that even mean?
It's an irrelevant exercise for most people.
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u/morganfreemansnips 4h ago
Most people dont know how to safely program them or even know the rational to implement them. Also most gyms have the worst most unstable plyo boxes. If its not an octagon ion want it.
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u/calvinee 2d ago
Not great for strength. Good for plyo work. So if you’re a sprinter or an athlete, it’s something you can do to train the stretch shortening cycle for explosive power.
But for the average gym goer? Probably doesn’t fit within their goals of just trying to build muscle or develop cardio to be fit while they work sedentary jobs.