#Tendons #StrengthTraining #FitnessJourney #HealthTips
Hey there, fitness enthusiasts! 💪 Have you ever wondered how your tendons change as they get stronger? It’s pretty fascinating when you think about it! Let’s dive into some of the physical changes tendons undergo during the strengthening process:
- Increased collagen production: As you work on strength training, your body ramps up the production of collagen, the protein that gives tendons their structure and strength. This means your tendons become more resilient! 🏋️♂️
- Improved tensile strength: Over time, tendons get better at handling the load you place on them. They become more robust, which helps prevent injuries while you’re pushing your limits.
- Better blood flow: Regular exercise increases blood circulation, which means more nutrients and oxygen get delivered to your tendons, aiding in their overall health and strength. 🚴♀️
- Adaptation of the tendon’s structure: As your tendons get stronger, they may also undergo changes at the microscopic level. For instance, they might become thicker or denser in response to the stresses you place on them.
- Increase in cross-sectional area: Stronger tendons can develop a larger cross-sectional area, which translates to more strength and better performance!
So, have you noticed your tendons feeling different as you’ve gotten stronger? Maybe you’ve experienced fewer injuries or improved mobility?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! What changes have you observed in your tendon strength during your fitness journey? Also, if you have any tips on exercises or routines that have helped you strengthen your tendons, please share! Let’s help each other out in this journey towards better health! 🌟
Tendons can remodel to an extent, thought it’s not nearly as quick or as dramatic as what can happen to bone or muscle.
Tendons can get thicker, which also make them stiffer (more resistant to stretching). At the molecular level the effects are pretty mixed from the literature! One issue is that tendon is a relatively inert tissue post skeletal maturation, at least in humans.
Good summary can be found here:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27150831/
Tendon rupture and tendinopathies are *very* common in middle age, especially in males who are revisiting exercise after a lapse. The trouble with exercise is that your muscles and bones can remodel in later life pretty effectively, but the tendons don’t keep as well.