JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================mK" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?<+v Yӕmc θ-7,BK*ս:Lj6 67.m(;ڍ+z+IkZlp (]ϥ`Mt`t?:k4*,WղITi\JW8Eϛo\ l+}RMlj@ ehPCƯuy3%RŽuf5 I]S ň2͸z?Z#,dRB68z]-m;yU=ٍpܗVm g'&a #ۜ"a^L[Efpk|ek"|927*x'W<@oRsN@zGmɝ[lH8)Sic.^b,uWZ]hPYpdkxW|e}Ȅc <-][k :7\㡥үڭgLFU13ɭ[Lҧoseu2JA J j4ɍWZ A.uV 8n p4ڄp30WT\5YW ʆ3B5LjdX$MB3X*7s\ڼ^#,ĀdV.ҡ iXӅ^Vd̈*=G¾4[\Mt ny=銽kuR%R {S+nKgMZy k[ֹ׽#Qp6J,'}}G壛ƅwkoڃ 5u%#oR\-ErxsߋM6HpHd>_FW=Y$ s޺ M=q[2sz!#/^i\[xbHV<+) ?yq<*/!K,|7_S)+ٚrKC$BM!$-Wkϵopg( ޻w6?я>oyi?zJ#м|]a7ÑЩ fIcBtz4SZKɮ#Ysd\ѧ\:%^5D 7/^qԊGXڴ} mo{ȿSǧ<*6.3!Y?5S8z.SUbQ(Y&GgN4FN0^KD)lvO1( X=, [^Ay-@x(MFFz<1cETd9nK,ђUT8={WY+kq\p# 1Z𝦕i㥶&d%b.KRd|_:tQ mrNXcuwV\8⻯ 7`XzEW8kk˹6UijnjoF(vf!Ʋ17kOa.wrj'k[7r zW:ƪ&{wԒvd\HB)9=t2e-"9H999^6HNqrG5́szVFڦe__Σs-Lys;Rf=9I{UY@\ c7F Pҭͦ%xN|&&pO]px V Axۤ޾C{l˝ID6XZ5n=2+@[۔ә_Ozl~;:M)^]~ 獬rR% UgRjN:Ŕ/=|S17-̑YV5ّ?] t纺`gi\'$g8U6d-䶜 SD)Q8ӯ_M|,7\,;:*ݟ Q?ō4}>**c'VyyNTu{^und,im`]|ZwK?WZ\LW=kYDO(<\ ʤn PYdC7þ3Vm D~L6#Ed:f:[]HAsWDRgY]zǓT7 <"y)LW2>lljj('֑kc)[eVx +`?QزCciuGd%1`1#9j43Cl5&ܗɊ7!k;V"1GIGHsIJhe back extension benches found in most gyms.&nbsp; Says Poliquin, "The design of the glute-ham developer allows an athlete to strengthen the erectors especially in the middle portion, which, in most sports, is exposed to high forces."</P> <P>Another plus for the glute-ham-raise is that it is one of the most important exercises for preventing back and knee injuries, especially the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).&nbsp; "The spine is exposed to great compressive forces in many sports,"&nbsp; says Poliquin.&nbsp; "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.&nbsp; Because the glue-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,"&nbsp;says Poliquin.</P> <P>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 injuires," says Shepard.</P> <P>Paul Chek, one of the world's foremost experts on strength training exer