When Tendon Trouble Strikes

PAYING THE PRICE FOR HEAVY LIFTING

Despite what many athletes believe and even attempt, bodybuilders cannot train around injuries. If you are injured before a contest it is game over. If you continue to train you can set yourself back for weeks or even months which will definitely impact your ability to go all-out.

- Werner Beukes

TREATING SYMPTOMS, NOT THE CAUSE 

Injuries are a common problem in any sport but are highly prevalent when you lift weights due to the physical and psychological stress being placed on the body, especially while in an energy deficit.

Bodybuilders and weightlifters are frequently guilty of not treating injuries properly because of the fear of losing gains made in the gym. Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman having to undergo extensive rehabilitation after multiple surgeries and power lifting legend Ed Cohen having a double hip replacement procedure a few years ago are but two examples of elite athletes who needed surgeries to repair extensive damage caused by heavy weights in the gym.

The act of building muscle can, in itself, be considered a mild form of injury as micro-trauma is inflected on muscle fibres when weights are lifted. Though progressive overload, coupled with adequate rest and proper nutrition, muscles are forced to adapt to this stimulus by repairing themselves. However, the key is to give the tissue the time needed for this process to run its course, otherwise the damage outpaces the ability of your body to repair itself, which often results in injuries over time.

Tendons, defined as cord-like bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones, are made of a tough, fibrous substance called collagen that can withstand quite a bit of force and tension. Due to the imposed stress of heavy lifting, these structures often experience some degree of degradation, too. Unfortunately, due to the poor blood flow to these structures, repair and recovery of these tissues often takes longer than muscle tissue, which is why aches and pains often occur with recurrent heavy training.