Beginning Hopping Drills

Plenty of runners come in for a running assessment and at some point, I like to get a quick picture of how they hop on a single leg, generally up to 30 seconds (or up to a minute, if we’re feeling sadistic). We focus on quality of hops as much as quantity: Are you keeping your heel from drastically dropping and hitting the ground, are you keeping your foot active up and down striking the floor? If having trouble with strength, focus on your calf raises. If it’s motor control or technique limiting it, then I assign wall drills to remove most bodyweight and to create a better situation for learning.

Double Leg Pogos: A solid point to learn how to lift through the ankles and keep an active foot, going for 30 seconds with a crisp landing.

Single Leg Pogos: The next progression, working on 30 seconds of uniform hops.

Seeing some changes but still want a more individualized approach to your rehab? Looking for physical therapists in Long Beach who understand what it takes to make fitness a daily part of your life? If you want to learn how to take control with some expert guidance and treatments to optimize your performance and longevity, then that’s exactly what we provide at Zenith Performance Physical Therapy.

Call or text us at 562-502-1767 to schedule a free phone consultation and come in for an evaluation!

Thomas Bilodeau, PT DPT, USAW-L1

Zenith Performance Physical Therapy 

ICE Certified Specialist: Orthopedics, Fitness Athlete, Older Adult