Exhaustive exercise that repeatedly involves the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) reduces stretch reflex sensitivity. This investigation determined whether repeated exhaustive SSC exercises could lead to adaptation of these mechanisms. If that occurred, then decline in performance could be delayed. The study showed that no adaptation occurred and therefore, training did not extend the quality of performance of this type of exercise other than through improvements in movement efficiency. Implication: The ability to perform repeated SSC types of exercise, for example, rebounding in basketball or a series of acrobatic stunts, is not extended through conditioning.
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