Stretching and Resistance Training and Tendon Effects

I talked in the past about the properties of tendon, so see this link HERE for a recap.
Below is another study I found that compared tendon changes to resistance training (RT) (think weight training) and resistance training with static stretching (RST).

This study was done in vivo, which means it was done in living, moving humans and not dead cadavers! They used each person as their own control by doing RT on one leg and RST on the other; so this tends to greatly reduce the variability in studies. They concluded

"The stiffness increased significantly by 18.8 +/- 10.4 % for RT and 15.3 +/- 9.3 % for RST (my note, RT was still higher) . There was no significant difference in the relative increase of stiffness between RT and RST. The hysteresis, on the other hand, decreased 17 +/- 20 % for RST, but was unchanged for RT (so RST dropped).

Just wondering what effect all that static stretching people do has on their body?

Personally, I think by using precise mobility work (like Z Health), you can achieve even BETTER range of motion, muscle activation changes withOUT static stretching. Do you want to really make a muscle and possibly tendon WEAKER? Remember that the body is ALWAYS adapting! What are you adapting to?

Thoughts?
Mike N

J Physiol. 2002 Jan 1;538(Pt 1):219-26.
Effects of resistance and stretching training programmes on the viscoelastic properties of human tendon structures in vivo.

Kubo K, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T. Department of Life Science (Sports Sciences), University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan. kubo@idaten.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp

The present study examined whether resistance and stretching training programmes altered the viscoelastic properties of human tendon structures in vivo. Eight subjects completed 8 weeks (4 days per week) of resistance training which consisted of unilateral plantar flexion at 70 % of one repetition maximum with 10 repetitions per set (5 sets per day).

They performed resistance training (RT) on one side and resistance training and static stretching training (RST; 10 min per day, 7 days per week) on the other side. Before and after training, the elongation of the tendon structures in the medial gastrocnemius muscle was directly measured using ultrasonography, while the subjects performed ramp isometric plantar flexion up to the voluntary maximum, followed by a ramp relaxation. The relationship between estimated muscle force (F(m)) and tendon elongation (L) was fitted to a linear regression, the slope of which was defined as stiffness. The hysteresis was calculated as the ratio of the area within the F(m)-L loop to the area beneath the load portion of the curve. The stiffness increased significantly by 18.8 +/- 10.4 % for RT and 15.3 +/- 9.3 % for RST. There was no significant difference in the relative increase of stiffness between RT and RST. The hysteresis, on the other hand, decreased 17 +/- 20 % for RST, but was unchanged for RT.

These results suggested that the resistance training increased the stiffness of tendon structures as well as muscle strength and size, and the stretching training affected the viscosity of tendon structures but not the elasticity.