Plyometrics and PNF: What they are Why athletes do them How they work Specialised Training Plyometrics and PNF: What they are Why athletes do them How they work

Skeletal Muscle Structure There’s more to it…! Muscle belly

Muscle Spindles Muscle Spindle Afferent sensory neurones Sensory receptors found in the belly of muscles Detect changes in the length of the muscle. They convey information on muscle length to the CNS via sensory neurons. This helps the brain to determine the position of body parts. If muscles lengthen too far, the spindles activate motor neurons causing the muscles to contract and shorten – the stretch reflex. Muscle Spindle Afferent sensory neurones Efferent motor neurones

Golgi Tendon Organ Sensory receptors found at the junction between muscle and tendon. Detect changes in the tension of (force generated by) the muscle. They convey information on muscle tension to the CNS via sensory neurons. If tension is too great, the GTO overrides alpha motor neurones, causing muscles to relax and drop a heavy load.