JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================dK" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?Un8FMr~*mD PqԶ^%Vц;sQ΄s^ЭEn 2nWVn;V<-tmԆ^ 6 ۑҕ zխFaz,X?d8{oW kc= s)kTovȶyt!1܆ LUCDm2D'2ܠN;vOai$eUElY=:SmMm˩E.nrʒ8P7>tS|Ny5TҖ٧V1yR6x00jdbK> }#S)OaNlq^ X ͑W\O~{6+u9'XrZe˗%_q$sTR_&xA%GfGBDL ^_S匍 4m#E:eôK˱973:(Sݻ .__Lċv8i[?PSQW w+:ҥEsm*D`a/aهnj[ћ.C"w$ SU2 HX^G9,ix,0 ˹TOz--P56-;Ql]/,M?H$)4qFÚ 4vBZF}VkO+nmTg+Kynn`9&| GFzCߍiV ,zsU])Yn>j`jX\U`7n֯im*<<\g8sNS^mB<(dOFj{h< Imi3G^k%W["+CH_{Am{1a#%fvKogI$b|ǓR|(lqȰ{t_T,'Gk J00dF>: %cRm-76T)tW$RqF!`0q*MեJu"R\|^2즢V RI5a]j{_ԠTP.GQZjڣxzk:2Ķp=ySɣ;Cq̇/5;t)t`-\;C~TBK0Nw7"j:7mt5iS RD/yϭcX  3 X'>k.v<jr9'6oLh.fT\-m.XRI\#*ysyMbLc3Q.v1:[9e p{}zT[O t$Jc Xd_n7JKu:UemAc@X:uͤnF5mJ/q;!?yq\z%J׏;K# <)"Ma6$^~IbIO5mMX(Y"ݝME ؜U!ӡv#?&uwqH^yfHT\ml (#մu?|F{aK1eE#@P:y.#F9+ gE_Ůkj\KBWה@Hߢ3thletes. In the U.S., the term plyometric training describes any activity that involves a rapid stretching of a muscle (eccentric phase) immediately followed by a rapid shortening of that muscle (concentric phase). Thus, a standing broad jump is considered plyometric because it involves a rapid stretching and shortening of the quadriceps muscles.<br><br>More specific definitions of plyometrics apply when considering the level of tension involved in the activity. For example, jumping rope would be more accurately called preparatory plyometrics because it does not produce a high level of muscle tension but helps condition the body and nervous system for more intense forms of plyometrics. The squat would also be considered a form of preparatory plyometrics because although it involves a stretching and shortening of the quadriceps muscles, the speed component is relatively small and doesn t produce the highest levels of muscle tension.<br><br>How effective are plyometrics? In a paper published in the Journal of Applied Sports Science Research in 1992, researchers conducted a six-week study on the effects of squatting and plyometrics on the vertical jump. The group that performed just the squat increased their vertical jump 3.3 centimeters, a significant improvement for six weeks. However, when plyometrics was combined with squatting, the increase