JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================]K" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?m˫^ZML"R2ZO-ɧ^3g;zx'FOԩ;~3ZY9 _c氽w,+y,}o;?* Mr ۭJHXRhU,_R#HG#·Iq L~8j^xYo},m9 I'm*SIPQwkt}bKK:λJľZ YuWxBE2'=驔cwc-*Xnnd&,r )9L`}kjǚlHop E }W6 y'WՌ  *n[ZxMY X0Vm@ɳx!ј Zѷ^X"8-Xt"T'x-)uC"2;O'=ӥoXig|X!''Y>ֲ^Ť?6HTf7[ J+-'W&r2y4*yjI4A. N|h1$T1ήT:MV}5w"N9k5dޢRg1h2جqݍIJZ岐dlXzV*\O6@ 13vaDe]P]Z;ˡz;乂d)@]0jM dbeHt &Vd0UA"ėmS9@[/9K[F >̈#H@|=iס*瓞?(]ڝ{FMFh!*@W]nZK,qc#z~{YV;eXqxipYCpgf'ʌ\r)]\:iqa0!K3q!.6=qAɓJN=85J9U\gUź]4MnB'FƁ Q8Cj4h-4 1lb3}E(7dN")ArטY˱%'+;־iݬ{&0JqUc 6RHXkM'^\OjόHhwslaMG|SL" y*Tro£/k,k5;%ޠYE74m-aUlbfYNAe ~_L Zu |G󥈏rJRE[ pA+fzc|TY^q]%8j秤ߋCVa-ҪEskOVԮB"J1r+UrİEu'wM4+m+Ҝ$  sִ w5$viۆ<Z`I*H_z-uK7P;5A弫\,kȼ'^حͭ4 /95'2ZHA&9N<ދ_<][~MDZw~,K]/@zMy߆F}Abg9p$Km Ar*!N勫R<> wg 3ekџ=GcZέw}_2PAVQR7M4G"yH\EU6`a8#]e.eҮ@;Xxӳ+> `U[m\J:n&x-B#4wt:dSMb!,zVm'power, especially for elite athletes. 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