How Does An Agility Ladder Improve Performance

When serious athletes want to focus their training on rapid movements and quick reactions they often turn to the use of an agility ladder. There are many different sizes of ladders, ranging anywhere from five to ten yards long. Even though the length can vary, the rungs usually remain at a constant, with about fifteen total. This piece of equipment is to be used flat on the ground while the athlete steps in and out of the space between the rungs. He does this while performing different exercises. It forces the athlete to develop agility as well as strength and can greatly improve his overall performance.

The agility ladder also improves the athletes ability to move and change direction quickly, effectively and efficiently. In addition, it improves the athletes ability to move in a controlled and deliberate manner by strengthening his hips and calves.

By forcing an athlete’s attention and focus on where his body is moving an agility ladder helps increase his coordination. Every athlete, no matter the sport, needs to learn how to focus so they can become more efficient in their actions. This type of focus also leads to economy of movement during the action. Top athletes need this edge to compete since they have to stay at optimum performance levels for as long as possible.

Speed is another area that greatly benefits from working with the agility ladder. It helps optimize your movements so that you can start sooner and accelerate quicker. It will also increase your rate of stride or the number of steps you take in a specific distance. Because of the hip conditioning inherent in working with the agility ladder you’ll find your balance also benefits from this type of training.

An agility ladder can also be used with a weighted belt or weighted vest to give added resistance when performing drills. You should not add resistance until you’ve mastered the mechanics of the drill using only your body weight. You can also use the agility ladder on the same day you do strength training. Just be sure to work with the agility ladder first so you avoid muscle fatigue. It is recommended that you schedule your agility ladder workouts two to three times a week, with two to three days rest in between. This will help cut down the risks of over training. You should also keep the total number of sets per workout under twenty. You can do this by selecting four to six drills per workout and performing not more than three to five sets of each drill.

Ready to know even more ways to use an agility ladder to improve performance? Before you buy an agility ladder to gain an edge know the facts. Get FREE fitness tips & performance advice at Charlie Dononvan’s website.