Jump Higher, Not Stiffer: What Flywheel Training Reveals

Ever wondered if using a flywheel device could help you jump higher? A recent study put this to the test. They took a bunch of active adults and split them into two groups: one that trained with flywheels for eight weeks and another that didn't. Before and after the training period, they measured how high people could jump and how stiff their vastus lateralis muscle was at rest.Guess what happened after eight weeks? The flywheel training group could jump higher and faster, showing better peak power and force. But here's a twist: their vastus lateralis muscle didn't get stiffer, it actually got a bit softer. Meanwhile, the control group, who didn't train, saw a slight decline in performance and an increase in muscle stiffness. So, what's the deal with flywheel training? It seems like it makes you jump better without making your muscles stiffer. Maybe it's about getting stronger or improving coordination. It's like learning a new trick to jump higher without using the same old methods.