Shuttle Recovery Owner's Manual page 43

UNSUPPORTED CLOSED CHAIN
It is sometimes useful to provide a stage of rehabilitation where the patient is required to
coordinate the lateral and vertical stabilization of the knee while performing concentric and
eccentric closed chain activities. This can be done using the upper extremity towers. By moving
the pulley connection up or down on the tower the angle of the loading may be controlled.
PLYOMETRICS
Skill and power are the ultimate goals in many athletic endeavors. Plyometrics training is a
technique used to achieve these goals. The principle is simple. In response to rapid loading or
stretching of a muscle, a subsequent powerful muscular contraction occurs. This reactive
change within the neuromuscular system can be conditioned, through plyometric exercise, to
facilitate faster and more powerful changes in the direction of movement.
Plyometric training is used to increase the overall power output of the muscle. This is essentially
achieved by decreasing the time between the eccentric contraction (bending leg under tension)
and the concentric contraction (extending leg while under tension) within the stretch shortening
cycle of the particular muscle. In conjunction with the strength of the muscle, the power output of
the concentric contraction is increased (Power being Distance x Force / Time).
The Shuttle Recovery is the ideal tool for sports specific plyometric training. The horizontal
positioning and body weight support allows for greater total quantity of exercise within the
plyometric sessions, more accurate speed and sports specific exercises, and a greatly reduced
potential for injury.
The horizontal position is important in that it makes it easier for the cardiovascular system to
work in support of the plyometric activity ie. improved blood return to the heart achieving an
easier pay back of the oxygen debt created by the anaerobic plyometric activity. By supporting
body weight, the Shuttle Recovery minimizes stress on joints and in conjunction with the
resistance bands allows for more appropriate speed control and over speed training. Sports
specific movement skills are also easier to refine with the control available utilizing the Shuttle
Recovery. In addition, the kickplate vantage point affords the coach an ideal view for skill
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