How to Use Elastic Power

The energy used by muscles is elastic, created by the expansion and contraction of the muscles in your body to generate a driving force for propelling yourself forward. In order to get the most out of your body's elastic energy it is important to maximize the amount of stretching the muscles can undergo while in use. Tapering is a process in which the workload of the body is cut back in the weeks prior to a major competition to maximize the ability of your body to utilize elastic energy.

Instructions

    • 1

      Work out in the months prior to event you will be tapering for at a full loud to build strength in your muscles.

    • 2

      Focus your pretaper workout to focus on the muscles that are most important to your sport.

    • 3

      Begin your taper three weeks prior to the event you are preparing for.

    • 4

      Reduce your workload gradually over the first week of the taper until you reach your taper workload.

    • 5

      Practice at approximately 60 percent intensity for the majority of the taper.

    • 6

      Stretch thoroughly every day, during the taper and when not in a taper, to maximize flexibility in your muscles and increase their elastic power further.