How do Tendons react to different movements and load ?

Most people like to talk about the impact that resistance has on muscles.. but what if we take a look at the impact it has on the other tissues ? ⁣

In this post, we dive into a little bit of material science and learn more about the mechanical properties of our tendons, and how that can determine the way they're impacted depending on the type (and rate) of resistance applied to the tissue. ⁣

In order to know how movements and resistance impact our tendons, we need to understand the mechanical properties of our tendons. In fact, while most people refer to tendons as "elastic-like" parts of our body, but they're actually "visco-elastic" if we want to be more precise. ⁣

Visco-elastic properties imply different behavior of the material depending on how quickly and heavy the material is loaded. In fact, the heavier and quicker the resistance applies its force on the tendon, the STIFFER the tendon gets as a response. ⁣

Conversely, the lighter the load/resistance is, the slower the change in force will be, allowing it to lengthen more easily during the contraction. ⁣

But why is that important ? ⁣🤨🤔