Training & Nutrition - Supplements to improve ligament and tendon elasticity...........

hi guys
There's a lot of protein and carb supplements out there to give our muscles a boost but what can anyone suggest for tendons that are liable to tearing or injury?

Wrong question.

Eat a bunch of fruit, take a good multi (only one I like is New Chapter) but...

So, prevention.

Do a real warmup (no stretching). You can walk for a while, swing your leg back and forth,
do some exercises like jumping jacks, planks, all that sort of thing.

Then when you start riding, go easy. It takes a while to get everything fully warmed up and ready.

Stretch afterwards.

One thing to consider is resistance exercises. Cycling is wonderful exercise. But if you think of your
body as being like a suspension bridge, there are places it doesn't help, and ways in which it doesn't promote resilience.
Cycling is front of the leg, exercises for the back of the leg create a needed balance. Back exercises add strength and
resilience there.

Don't bother with the Glucosomine Chondroitin. Its been proven to not do squat

Don't bother with the Glucosomine Chondroitin. Its been proven to not do squat



Link?

There is a study that showed glucosamine to be ineffective. But they didn't use Glucosamine Sulfate, which tells me
they were trying to create the impression it is ineffective.

My impression is that it works.

A daily regimen of stretching and yoga will do more for flexibility than a pill. I'm finally able to touch my toes again after about four months of dedicated stretching sessions daily. This was preceded by a decade of inactivity so I certainly wasn't real flexible before I started.

The only supplements I take are a daily aspirin, vitamin D, and Omega oils (can you tell I have a history of heart disease in my family?)

Training is what strengthens connective tissue. I don't think you can strengthen a tendon. They are what they are. But the end points you can strengthen. Resistance exercise (weights) is what does it best. IME supplements do nothing for that. However, glucosamine sulphate has worked for many people to keep cartilage in good working order. Chondroitin AFAIK has never been shown to do anything. Glucosamine hydrochloride has also been shown to provide little if any benefit.
http://www.wynnpharm.com/images/randd/GUIDE%20Trial%20AR07.pdf

Training is what strengthens connective tissue. I don't think you can strengthen a tendon. They are what they are. But the end points you can strengthen. Resistance exercise (weights) is what does it best. IME supplements do nothing for that. However, glucosamine sulphate has worked for many people to keep cartilage in good working order. Chondroitin AFAIK has never been shown to do anything. Glucosamine hydrochloride has also been shown to provide little if any benefit.
http://www.wynnpharm.com/images/randd/GUIDE%20Trial%20AR07.pdf

Training strengthens connective tissue but you don't think you can strengthen tendons?
You could be more misinformed, but not much.

hi guys
There's a lot of protein and carb supplements out there to give our muscles a boost but what can anyone suggest for tendons that are liable to tearing or injury?

It's the muscles that you want to loosen, not their attachment points!

I like the eat more raw fruits and veggies idea, but i personally have trouble getting it done. Ligaplex II from standard process is supposed to be good for ligaments. Also Omega 3's wouldnt hurt..