The pains of growing older.

I am no training expert, but I believe they will respond as well to weight lifting training as to any other. The problem isn't getting them to respond, its that they strengthen more slowly than the attached muscle. Thus, if the muscle is undeveloped, the tendon and attachments will be much stronger; however, the muscle might grow stronger by 10% a week with appropriate training, diet, and AAS. The tendon and attachment may strengthen at only 1-2% a week (I don't know any reliable number, this is just a for instance). So if the tendon will initially carry the load from curling a 50 lb weight, but the muscle can only manage 12 lbs, you're fine. But in a few months (say 4) the muscle will be handling 48 lbs but the tendon will only be ready for around 60. If this rather optimistic growth rate continued, in another couple of months you could be trying to curl over 100 lbs and certainly be beyond the tendon capability. In practical reality, the tendons and attachments are usually MUCH stronger than the muscles will ever be. More relistic numbers might be 100 lbs or more for the relatively untrained tendon. The problem is that you can easily exceed this load with a 50-60 lb dumbbell by just jerking it quickly or letting it bounce on relatively relaxed, cold muscle. When you do this, disaster is possible. This is one of the best reasons for paying attention to form and not jerking weights around. The loads in high speed movements can be far beyone the average gravity load imposed by a weight (what's marked on the side). It takes only a bit more lifting power than the weight marked to lift the weight if you do it slowly and can sustain the force as the weight rises. If you do it rapidly you can manage a burst of lifting power for a short time, probably not long enough to fully lift the weight, but enough to give it the momentum to coast through the hard parts. While this makes you appear to lift more, it places excess strain on the tendons at the start of the movement and/or the end of the eccentric return. The greater inpulse given the weight at the outset, the less strength will be required to compete the motion, so you don't get the full benefit of the weight over the range of motion, while courting a tendon rupture. Fortunately, you usually feel a lot of pain and discomfort long before a rupture. Unfortunately, some people think they just have to "suck up the pain" and keep going. That's not a good idea. You can apply it to the burn from exercise, but it should never be applied to the pain of a developing soft tissue injury, either in tendon or muscle.

yup, it creeps up on you, doesn't it? left knee, when the planets are aligned improperly - left shoulder, stubborn tendonitis in the left elbow.

Hell I don't feel so alone now. LOL I am 52 and only detached my right bicep, torn the left rotator and enjoyed a hernia operation. In general I feel pretty good after a quart of coffee and 3 advils. Woo! Hoo! Hang in there it is worth it!!

We should call this the Ben-Gay board...I will be 45 in a few months,I started training when I was 18 and competed when I was 31-35.Then got married,house child and say by by to training. I got bitten by the bug 6 weeks ago my weight was 289 LBS at 5'11"..can you say fat yup, however I stall had a massive frame.I bought all the equipment and put it in my house and started to train.I found very fast that my body is a little different now than it was 15 years ago.I started the Keto diet and I am doing 1-test transdermal with fantastic results.I dropped 22lbs of fat and my viens are starting to show and my chest size is up to 50" and biceps 18".Thank god for muscle memory.I notice joint pain starting to set in when my carbs are to low so I increase a little more fat (whipping cream) seems to help.It feels so good to be back in the zone after all the neglect,I forgot how much I missed the pump and who knows in one year I just may bring the posing trunks out from retirement...Good luck to all us ole timers... Remember Al Beckles at age 56 winning shows so we are never too old...

Amen brother.....I let it go for about 7 years....I went from training 4 days a week and working construction to a desk and marriage....I gained 60 pounds in less than 4 years!!...it is hard and the injuries are piling up....but it is worth it .....and it makes you wonder...WHY did I stop?

After all the injuries i've had, I still am learning how to train to prevent further ones. Here's some of my tips. Change training styles. (light, heavy, low-rep, high rep) Eat good and supplement Drink plenty of water Warm-up (should be at top of list) Rest adaquetly between training days Anyone got more ?

Originally posted by raam After all the injuries i've had, I still am learning how to train to prevent further ones. Here's some of my tips. Change training styles. (light, heavy, low-rep, high rep) Eat good and supplement Drink plenty of water Warm-up (should be at top of list) Rest adaquetly between training days Anyone got more ? I couldn't agree more with "I still am learning how to train" since our bodies are in a consistant although slow state of change due to getting stronger, weaker, bigger or smaller, plus factoring in getting older. As we get older more time should be spent warming up those old joints, tendons and muscles. I always cringe when I see the young guys warm for their chest work-out with 225lbs for the first set....just because they can doesn't mean they should. They'll pay for it later. But, you tell them anything...they won't listen....(we didn't either!!!)