JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================z" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?ZybO"B1PΉrk)CJi`F@VgWlTMNqTc*eWQ d>b8̱9zW/UutQRFr$\¦STxJOjIaOҤVZڥVp)zaO AJPHGQz <#M.=)`?*c0JFaF3U1XAS< @@1砢crI+RPfby$Ҳ x>"޹XWVʛ?j^,J uj~5taqoj{ު[noǦ? V@čz"y=@~"LJR\l #b%\Ӟ = yw<=7B2[ɓ}붍nmm_Ξ86;@}s ShpHRJ[=4QsHX{sN= `9=OQ?#1Tl #1SQI&NhsR)X0݅HTղo+U ?y8ʖvΈR惝GKwg< 6F Vd667Լw6ŵVcH}y׈5=bo;: pɝy ȲM<5ErR 2`VǹWaF/ ԔCK'QnP[U p c qJN@zΐiSL$v'4r:li `8ٹLBjl 4n5 抍)OY896) ]''`JNJƮ6Zs{7BrG jXp.%#f3\8z\y:*D;"\rkp3W5Y wAw8Ƞd縦1zinp1M$ڀ=J╉Q5BaTNJy֘ cQMViC_ҺAk\?<ҟ]P5qTמ< sE|zxv8[TGy ';nRK+ mSzzt,QpP1j-;WN*y*Q|9۵"g~s+]X3ںԛy'jxgi&|Izʣv ʺBAzcx 1w!ch=ϭF+>Nk<14;$z+ ɽE?@V:^8RiWpc֦*AjfLG8x ~2Fy P3tռIuuKi\*؊QhKqyOʲ ˜oS֠ -I-cc?0Cm;W_iMIQ\KtoNiEŒ#6rWS]\8I㎇O I#Tp+09=w7^qix$XZCk|{.KuuB7DO*`T?Ch4ub2#?\ '@X*RG<ZΣ5k5B9q@<2~5HXcLNQNI% -ì1Vv +> `T硞AmtJNqzx =k.d啹,&wo9tCE=>S9, =(8)֊wP551֣{ۥHd7Xe"g^8#nג=l+:,主7pzUGAz/{ehڕՍ̋" $[d-%8Bp9qڼ[ e,OnUIg_(l?֡ӋwQHm\+)$~9ΪP\0\)&Fq4y;K ]yOLS*;J!#p 0`i<¬bV =$dKWc4CYZo ϗc 63xVV`\?S'zS/5{ZO^;T >QLh$yֲlI/\,c2*;+_,JH'59ۖ=7lW6.ڨ`aGUdx͉Y1Tɡr5rg@,r;S5ޡv+1pX3`PY"Uk㐧W|1Jd R |Q}G3M}F%~XgRk]Rhb8?UV5fV}wwkJMw8QM ^^0ʌ1igڰG֘dqދ#oA'9 A0MߦkJց`5G w2qEXMreventing back and knee injuries, especially the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).  The spine is exposed to great compressive forces in many sports, says Poliquin.  I ve found that athletes who are weak in the hamstrings, glutes and lower back not only are more likely to injure the lower back, but also are especially prone to tearing the ACL. Because the glute-ham exercise increases muscle mass and strength in the back, glutes and hamstrings, those athletes who include this exercise in their programs are better able to withstand the compressive loads on the spine and those forces that occur with sports such as football and alpine skiing, says Poliquin.<br>BFS President Greg Shepard says that proof of the value of such exercises is evidenced in the reduction of injuries reported by those who attend BFS clinics, which teach a number of assistance exercises like the straight-leg deadlift and glute-ham raise.  After one year, schools that have sponsored a BFS clinic average a 50 percent decrease in injuries, says Shepard.<br>Paul Chek, one of the world s foremost experts on strength training exercises for the spine, says that the glute-ham exercise is superior to the back extension for rehabilitation. Chek says that because its works both functions of the hamstrings, the glute-ham exercise is a more functional exercise than the seated back extension machine (and is considerably less expensive). Further, Chek says the glute-ham raise places minimal compressive forces on the spine, forces that can exacerbate lower-back pain.<br><br>BFS and the <br>Glute-Ham Raise<br><br>Core lifts like the power clean and the squat form the basis of a BFS workout, and descriptions of proper performance of these movements can be found in BFS books and co