Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Zephrok t1_itl4egb wrote

Reply to comment by AquaDoctor in Do ligaments (ACL) build up to an injury or just suddenly fail? by Toast1185

So Ligaments dont strengthen at all? Rock climbers talk much about finger tendons getting stronger through climbing and training hangboarding. Pro climbers can hang and pull on one finger - I certainly can't.

What is happening there?

6

Jfrog1 t1_itlj8se wrote

tendons/ligaments do strengthen over time, they just take much longer to strengthen than muscle, or skeletal tissue. Consequently they tend to be the weak link. Think of a power lifter who can squat 600 pounds. The were not able to do that 5 years ago, but with years of training, when they started at being able to just squat 400 pounds, the muscle and ligament tissue adapted and grew to be able to withstand the stress of their surroundings.

14

yersiniaD t1_itl5asb wrote

The tendons in the fingers are joined to and powered by muscles in the forearm, so grip strength can be increased by muscle training. Ligaments join bone to bone so they can't be developed through training.

4

runningwithtigers t1_itmqcod wrote

ACLs do adapt! Check out Powerlifter's ACL thickness vs general population.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535026/

2

AquaDoctor t1_itnurcu wrote

Very specific article looking at heavy weight lifting in very specific athletes. "All athletes in our study began training before or during their pubertal growth spurt." And not to be a complete jerk about it, but you've posted a few comments with this article, published in a journal that went out of business in 2014 and looking at 9 (NINE!) total weight lifters. I'm all for looking at new data, but this isn't it.

3

SuperSimpleSam t1_itv2ni4 wrote

It would also be more useful showing the ligaments getting thicker rather than a comparison to the general population since the people that are able to lift heavier weights might be ones with thicker ligaments.

2

AquaDoctor t1_itvqi3h wrote

That's such a great point. Selection Bias. The ones with the thicker ligaments were able to lift heavy weight or stayed in the sport. The ones with regular ligaments either tore their ACLs or dropped out. It would be like saying that playing basketball makes you taller. Great thought. Thanks

2

dave200204 t1_itllkae wrote

Most grip strength training is really working your forearms. If you look closely at Rock climbers arms they usually have well defined biceps, triceps and forearms.

1

AquaDoctor t1_itntxof wrote

Tendons attach muscles to bones. Ligaments attach bones to bones. So any answers confusing the two need to be corrected. yersiniaD has the right answer.

1