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The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide - Uniformed Services ...

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<strong>The</strong> quadriceps muscle is quickly stretched, and the muscle spindles react by contractingthe quadriceps muscle causing the knee-jerk response. <strong>The</strong> greater or more rapid thestretch, the greater the response of the muscle spindles and the resultant muscle contraction.Signals are high in frequency at the beginning of a stretch, but then slow down as they adaptto the new length.<strong>The</strong> lengthening reaction engages GTOs, which are located in the muscle-tendonjunctions, and activates them when the tension in a tendon is increased as a result of eithermuscular contraction, stretching the muscle beyond its resting length, or a combination ofthe two. When muscular tension increases, the GTOs respond by sending inhibitory signalsto the muscle; this causes the muscles to relax, and protects the muscles and tendons fromtearing due to tension overload. Knowledge of the stretch reflex and the lengtheningreaction is useful for effective stretching.<strong>The</strong> most effective stretches are performedslowly, and held for 15 - 30 seconds.Performing the stretch slowly avoids excessive activation of the muscle spindlesand resultant muscular contraction. Holding the stretch allows time for the muscle spindlesto adapt to the new muscle length, and eventually, to achieve greater lengths. <strong>The</strong> lengthand duration of the stretch should also be sufficient to activate the GTOs so that theyoverride the muscle spindles and induce muscular relaxation.Flexibility Training Methods<strong>The</strong>re are several training methods used to develop flexibility; however, most fallunder the following general categories:" Dynamic" Static" Ballistic" Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF)Dynamic StretchingDynamic stretching (sometimes referred to as active stretching) consists ofcontrolled movements which increase in range and/or speed so that you gradually reachyour full range and speed of movement (e.g., slow, controlled leg swings or kicks,controlled arm swings, back bends). This type of stretching often mimics the activity thatis to be performed and prepares the muscles for that activity.112 Flexibility

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