I came across a pub med article that talks about the elderly having less connective tissue due to a lower protein turnover rate, which increases injury risk when training heavy by weakening joints and tendons. I wanted to know your thoughts/comments on it: The pathogenesis of tendinopathy: balancing the response to loading - PubMed
I don’t think it’s accurate to say that training heavy “weakens joints and tendons”, broadly speaking. A brief look at this article indicates that it is discussing some of the basic science behind the principles of exercise dosing as they relate to tendon adaptation.
There are some connective tissue changes that have been associated with aging, such as changes in the expression of dystrophin, costameres, and a variety of other proteins that aren’t relevant for broader conversations about training across the aging spectrum. Many of these changes are probably not as dramatic with habitual training (due to longer-term adaptations that can occur, the repeated bout effect, etc.).
But if the principles we’ve discussed and described in our content on exercise dosing for training in general, as well as for rehabilitation situations are followed, I do not have concerns about “weakening joints and tendons” in older trainees. I am far more concerned about them being too weak to begin with, from inadequate physical activity.
Thank you Dr. Baraki for the quick response and your time. Happy Holidays!