#72 - Tendons: from exercise adaptation to injury and rehabilitation, with Professor Michael Kjær

[@davidsabbagh6815]

This material is exactly what I need to hear at exactly the perfect time since I am nursing knee tendon soreness almost certainly from overuse (and being 65, over confidence in my strength).

[@chrisjefferis1930]

Keith Barr's research seems to suggest that tendons can grow and thicken in adults doing isometric strength exercises and taking 10-15g collagen 1hr before the strength exercise. I believe this research because I need the hope.

[@susiehooper2798]

Thank you. Really interesting! Helpful distinctions between overuse and acute injuries, muscle and tendon injuries. Much more going on in tendons than Scientists used to think. It makes sense that there isn't a line between muscle and tendon and the connective tissue in muscle is also important. Thanks again!

[@insideexercise]

Great to hear that you got a lot out of it 👍

[@richardwatson1892]

Your podcasts are the dogs pods. Keep up the awesome work.

[@bambarc1]

@Glenn McConnell. Thank you for your informative program. It was very pleasant meeting you in person as well. This is zack!

[@rivalgaz]

Professors thank you both for this podcast episode. I found it insightful and helpful especially I am nursing a sore "gamer's thumb" at the moment myself. The discussion on overuse injury, prediction and prevention of tendon issues is important for me as both a high performance gamer with an interest in the topic of elite gaming performance. I particularly found the idea of exercise as a healing mechanism interesting and it runs contrary to a lot of quick Google advice such as put your hand in a splint and do not train whatsoever. The thermometer approach and a spike in training in advance as a lead up indicator is useful to consider. It totally matches my experience when pushing for a new record, or learning new games and the skills needed. Strengthening the hands overall is an interesting concept to mitigate tendon issues too, but it is one that anecdotally has different attitudes from gamers to piano players regarding finesse required for the activity. I intend to strengthen my hands however, I think it will help with healing and prevention of the issue. The whole paradox of being capable enough to do the activity, but that becomes a risk factor is also fascinating. The idea of upper limit of performance even amongst elite athletes is something I hadn't considered. Then when there was mention of finding your "stress test" to know if you're good to go was also something to consider in a training regime. Then the idea of variance in training and activity regarding triathletes was something I hadn't considered too. I do a lot of the same thing everyday, as I'm training for the games I play. But it is rather commonsense that this will certainly increase the chances of an overuse injury. Therefore despite the importance of training for the job you're going to do, there has to be a nuanced approach and complimentary pathways to attain the performance whilst minimising injury chance and in my case, improving healing. The whole idea that you can push through it all, do the job, win the game that you need to, but the longer you leave it and the seeming randomness of when these injuries occur even in elite players really does make me think and totally aligns with my experience getting injured. As this is my third overuse injury in two years I feel as if I am either hitting my ceiling, or not going about it in the most effective way. Clearly there is much to be found out in my area of interest as it intersects with yours. If you have read this far Michael I just want to thank you again as your podcast here was one of the inspiring factors for me to apply to do a PhD myself. I am, fingers crossed hoping to get my offer before the end of the year. I believe that there is a sports science or something like it when it comes to video gaming. I find all of your episodes have something relevant for me to consider when it comes to elite gaming and understanding how and why we "get good" at video games.

[@insideexercise]

Thank you very much for this message!! I definitely read it to the end. Good luck with your injury and it’s really great to hear that the podcast was helpful even with an activity such as gaming that I hadn’t considered in that regard. Good luck also getting into the PhD too. Really great to hear the pod may have inspired you to move in that direction! I will email your message to a Michael in case he misses it. I feel that your message is a fantastic summary of the podcast episode. Are you on Twitter? It would be great to post it there too if you can be bothered. I’d then repost it as it is a fabulous message to have out there. Thanks again for the comment.

[@vickielynn777]

Understanding about the fluid in the calf and tendon is helpful. Thank you! I wish that you would address those who have been floxed by Cipro or another antibiotic in that class. I understand now that those antibiotics disrupt collagen repair, but is there a different course of rehabilitation for injuries due to being floxed. Also, I wish doctors and pharmacists were better educated to the new Blackbox warning. Please address in a future youtube. episode

[@insideexercise]

I wasn’t aware of this actually. You’re talking about Fluoroquinolone antibiotics right?

[@horstinator1859]

Great information, thank you. Question: I recently started having insertional achilles pain despite having done slow heavy eccentric heel raises for the past couple of years. I had this problem for 10+ years and solved it with these exercises and had no issues during my marathon build and the actual marathon in Oct 2023. I did run a 50 miler in Dec which might have caused this new pain. I am just at a loss as I don't know what to do beyond what I have already been doing for at least 2 years (on avg 2 x per week, 3 x 10 on Smith machine with up to 185 lbs; recently I have increased to 3 x per week and also added some concentric/isotonic reps). Thank you

[@imatt6119]

There was no use of the term “tendinitis” in this podcast - is this something distinct from tendinopathy or just outdated terminology?

[@RXP91]

Spanish squats saved my quad tendons. Heavy isometrics work for the knees

[@joshhall470]

Is there any resarch on fasting and tendons i heard a remark about growth hormone in fasted state. I would asume an injured animal may have a hard time getting food. Mechanical injury is common enough.

[@joshhall470]

According to bard there is assuming it's not made up.