The Key to Strong and Healthy Tendons

Not getting faster? Let's take a look at tendons

Tendons play a critical role in an athlete's performance, and it is important to train in a variety of ways to keep them strong and healthy.

Tendon Elasticity- Plyometrics are great for training tendon elasticity, and helping the tendon return quickly to its resting length. However, for the tendon to stretch and return to its normal length, it requires our muscle to stay stiff during the movement

Tendon Stiffness- On the other hand for an athlete to make fast and repetitive movements, like sprinting, we want the tendon to be able to remain stiff, while the muscles expand and contract, this is where resistance training comes into play

In most young athletes, they are already mobile enough and quick enough from the countless hours they have already spent dedicated to their sport. What they need to focus on is increasing their body's ability to absorb force and to transmit force into the ground, the key to a faster first step, or a quicker change of direction. This comes through strengthening both muscles and tendons with a combination of plyometrics and heavy and controlled resistance training, that have a higher demand than on the field or court.

How We Help at New Phila Barbell S&C

Structured Programming- To build strong and healthy tendons, an athlete should be following a program that builds with progressive overload, not just random training sessions. It is important to introduce higher stimulus over time.

Proper Mechanics- Along with the correct program, it is important to do each movement correctly, so that it is actually training the correct muscles and tendons. Performing movements correctly and efficiently matter, for both safety and growth.

Attention to Detail-   We keep our group sessions sizes limited to make sure each athlete can be monitored. While all athletes will work the same movement pattern, each one may be working on a different progressions/regression of the movement, anywhere from bodyweight for beginners. to heavy barbell movements for experienced athletes