Complex Bunny Hops
Key notes
- Type of exercise: Plyometric
- Primary Muscles used: Gastrocnemius and soleus.
- Good for: Developing elastic recoil, power. Complex and random movement patterns.
- When to use during rehab: End
Equipment options
If you’re doing this exercise with a patient in clinic, it’s best to use a set of short hurdles. If the patient is doing this exercise at home, they can use any selections of objects, so long as they are not to wide as this could result in injury.
Method
- Start by laying out half of the hurdles in a straight line. At this point lay down 3 further hurdles – one 90 degrees to the left, one 90 degrees to the right and one straight on.
- Have the patient perform bunny hops down the line of hurdles. When they arrive towards the end of the line shout left, right or straight on.
- The patient should then perform a final bunny hop in the corresponding direction.
- The aim here is to have the patient perform a complex movement with an element of randomness at the end. If they are performing the exercise at home they could enrol a family member or friend to shout the directions.
