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Plyometrics exercise
What exactly is plyometrics exercise? Like many things, this is a type of workout that has recently become very fashionable, but unlike some other fads it has its roots in a long-standing and well-proven technique.
Plyometrics exercise is designed for athletes and sports people who want to add explosive power to their repertoire. Power is defined as the rate at which strength can be converted into speed.
While pure strength is an important consideration in most sports, the ability to convert that strength to speed quickly is what often sets world class performers apart.
Plyometrics exercise is a form of training that prepares the body to do just that. Whereas most movements performed in the gym involve a muscular contraction that starts off fast, but decelerates rapidly at the end of the movement, this type of training is characterized by open-ended movements into free space - jumps and swings that explode through their full length.
It can be painful for the novice, particularly if they are not already in good shape - this training requires a solid base of strength and flexibility training, and the supervision of a qualified expert. However, a well-designed program will take athletes to a new level of performance, and can make a huge difference come game time.
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