- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
Exercise and The Spine
Plyometrics
Plyometrics
Plyometric exercise refers to an advanced type of intense exercise that enhances the body’s ability to produce muscle force and speed. This type of exercise is ideal for athletes who require powerful explosive movements in their sports, such as track runners and football players. Pylometrics can also be used to improve reaction time, thus reducing the risk for injury to the spine or weight bearing extremity joints. Plyometrics can be high intensity or low intensity.
Example of low intensity pylometrics includes stair-climbing, box hopping, swimming with resistance fins, using a medicine ball on a rebounder, jumping on a rebounder and using a drag chute while running. Low intensity plyometrics can be incorporated into a rehabilitation program if carefully monitored and appropriately selected for the patient.
Plyometric exercise has a unique influence on the nervous system improving the speed and efficiency of muscle contractions. To benefit from plyometrics, it is important to perform the right type of exercise(s) and to incorporate quick and smooth movements while avoiding uncontrolled jarring movement when the muscles are stretched.
Muscles and tendons are surrounded by specialized membranes and tissues that do not actively contract. When these tissues are stretched they store energy (elastic energy) similar to a rubber band when it is stretched. When the stretched musculoskeletal tissues are released during a rapid muscle contraction (shortening process) there is a recoil reaction, similar to releasing a stretched rubber band. This reaction helps muscle produce more force during muscular contraction. This process is often referred to as a stretch shortening cycle (SSC) produces more power. The shorter the transition period is between muscle lengthening and contraction the more powerful the contraction. Plyometric exercise requires muscle loading/stretching and contraction in rapid sequence to incorporate the stretch shortening cycle.
Studies have shown that plyometric training increases vertical jump height, speed, physical reaction time and overall power. The improvement in performance is thought to be secondary to neural adaptations, changing sensitivity of specialized receptors in muscles and tendons, more efficient neuromuscular coordination and an increased capacity to harness stored elastic energy for muscle contraction. Individuals who are fit typically respond quicker and more favorably to plyometric exercise. Highly trained individuals have already experienced structural adaptation of musculoskeletal tissues. In a sense they are ready to fine-tune their nervous system and respond to fluid movement. Plyometrics is a perfect type of exercise for the strength-trained individual who additional competitive speed or strength.
Plyometric training conditions the body to fire a greater number of muscle fibers in a shorter period of time than most other forms of exercise. This results in a faster and more complete muscle contraction allowing for the muscle to perform more work.
Example of low intensity pylometrics includes stair-climbing, box hopping, swimming with resistance fins, using a medicine ball on a rebounder, jumping on a rebounder and using a drag chute while running. Low intensity plyometrics can be incorporated into a rehabilitation program if carefully monitored and appropriately selected for the patient.
Plyometric exercise has a unique influence on the nervous system improving the speed and efficiency of muscle contractions. To benefit from plyometrics, it is important to perform the right type of exercise(s) and to incorporate quick and smooth movements while avoiding uncontrolled jarring movement when the muscles are stretched.
Muscles and tendons are surrounded by specialized membranes and tissues that do not actively contract. When these tissues are stretched they store energy (elastic energy) similar to a rubber band when it is stretched. When the stretched musculoskeletal tissues are released during a rapid muscle contraction (shortening process) there is a recoil reaction, similar to releasing a stretched rubber band. This reaction helps muscle produce more force during muscular contraction. This process is often referred to as a stretch shortening cycle (SSC) produces more power. The shorter the transition period is between muscle lengthening and contraction the more powerful the contraction. Plyometric exercise requires muscle loading/stretching and contraction in rapid sequence to incorporate the stretch shortening cycle.
Studies have shown that plyometric training increases vertical jump height, speed, physical reaction time and overall power. The improvement in performance is thought to be secondary to neural adaptations, changing sensitivity of specialized receptors in muscles and tendons, more efficient neuromuscular coordination and an increased capacity to harness stored elastic energy for muscle contraction. Individuals who are fit typically respond quicker and more favorably to plyometric exercise. Highly trained individuals have already experienced structural adaptation of musculoskeletal tissues. In a sense they are ready to fine-tune their nervous system and respond to fluid movement. Plyometrics is a perfect type of exercise for the strength-trained individual who additional competitive speed or strength.
Plyometric training conditions the body to fire a greater number of muscle fibers in a shorter period of time than most other forms of exercise. This results in a faster and more complete muscle contraction allowing for the muscle to perform more work.
