Jump Squat

The Jump Squat is an explosive plyometric exercise that builds lower body power by adding a vertical jump to the traditional squat movement. It primarily targets the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings while elevating your heart rate for conditioning.

Exercise movement reviewed by:Marie Braga, PT, DPT, CSCS
How Iridium Helps

Plyometric exercises like the Jump Squat demand high neural output and joint recovery. Our AI analyzes your daily HRV and sleep quality to determine if your central nervous system is ready for this explosive movement, potentially suggesting lower-impact alternatives on high-stress days. Additionally, by tracking your RPE and rep consistency, the app detects fatigue early to prevent the form breakdown that often leads to injury during high-impact landings.

Form Cues

Do
  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly out
  • Squat down keeping your chest up and back straight
  • Explode vertically extending hips, knees, and ankles
  • Land softly on the balls of your feet first
  • Immediately absorb the impact by sinking into the next squat
Don't
  • Don't land with stiff, straight legs
  • Don't let your knees collapse inward
  • Don't hunch your shoulders or round your back
  • Don't slam your feet into the ground loudly

Common Mistakes

  • Landing with a loud, heavy thud
  • Knee valgus (knees caving in)
  • Not achieving full hip extension in the air
  • Stopping momentum between repetitions

Muscles Worked

This exercise is a powerhouse for the quadriceps and glutes, requiring them to generate maximum force to propel you upward. The hamstrings and calves assist in the triple extension mechanism, while your core muscles work overtime to stabilize your spine during the dynamic landing and takeoff phases.

Primary

QuadricepsGlutes

Secondary

HamstringsCalvesTibialis Anterior

Get Personalized Coaching for Jump Squat

Don't guess your way through weights or workouts. Download Iridium for automatic, AI-powered coaching that adapts to your recovery and goals.

Coming SoonLearn More