Which of the following is an example of a plyometric exercise?

Plyometric exercises are characterized by explosive movements that involve rapid stretching and contracting of muscles, aimed at increasing power and enhancing athletic performance. Jump squats exemplify this definition as they require you to perform a squat followed by an explosive jump upward. This action rapidly stretches the leg muscles upon the downward squat and then engages those same muscles in a powerful contraction when jumping, effectively training the muscles for both strength and speed.

In contrast, jumping jacks, push-ups, and crunches, while they contribute to overall fitness, do not specifically feature the rapid stretch-and-contract mechanism that defines plyometrics. Jumping jacks involve a more moderate aerobics movement without the same explosive characteristic, push-ups focus on upper body strength, and crunches target the core without incorporating the explosive element found in jump squats.