bodybuildingAre Top Mr Olympia Contenders Really That Fragile?
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If you're a bodybuilding fan, then you must know who Branch Warren is, and that he recently slipped and fell in a wet parking lot and tore his quad tendon as a result of this unfortunate accident.
I never would have thought this huge pro bodybuilder could indeed be so full of muscle, but yet so physically fragile at the same time. So my question is:
Any idea why? Could it have been that his tendon was already vulnerable due to all the years of punishment from all the extreme training he does? Or perhaps his abundant bodyweight played against him this time?
Insightful opinions/hypothesis are more than welcome.
Thanks.
I never would have thought this huge pro bodybuilder could indeed be so full of muscle, but yet so physically fragile at the same time. So my question is:
Any idea why? Could it have been that his tendon was already vulnerable due to all the years of punishment from all the extreme training he does? Or perhaps his abundant bodyweight played against him this time?
Insightful opinions/hypothesis are more than welcome.
Thanks.
By Ralph Acero – over 1 year ago
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Years ago when creatine was first being used by professional athletes, it got blamed for various muscular injuries. The theory was that whilst muscles were stronger and denser, tendons were not gaining as much strength as the muscular counterparts, therefore became areas of risk. This was a bit of a nonsense theory that I think was largely unproven. However, I will pose that theory now. For some of these huge bodybuilders of who knows what steroids and drugs, do tendons undergo the same strength gains that the belly of the muscles do? If they don't, well then absolutely they would be at risk of ruptures. Also, if the muscles are really pumped after a workout, could this exert abnormal forces?
Health and Fitness Doctor
Tendons may also thicken in a response to repeated loading.
But on the flipside, consider this:
It's widely ackowledged that when a person runs (i.e. experiences shock loading), they put up to 7 times their bodyweight through the knee.
Now consider that a top BBer has MUCH more mass on their frame and therefore the '7 times bodyweight' issue becomes significantly greater as a result.
SWhen we slip and catch ourselves, we place a lot of stress through a joint and its surrounding tissues. Carrying alot more muscle mass (or fat) is going to magnify those forces. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that whilst Branchs' tendons may be stronger than 'average' I suspect the extra weight he carries has outstripped this and was the major factor in his injury.
The question is; would a person carring close to 300lbs of fat, as opposed to muscle, be any better, or worse off, in the same situation?
Human Performance Consultant