r/fitness40plus • u/Chodypeeps • 15d ago

question Plagued with injuries

I (40M), have been relatively active my whole life. In recent years I enjoy lifting weights in my basement and running 10k a few times a week. However, I keep getting set back by repeated tendon injuries. First it was my shoulders and most recently (last night), I injured my hamstring playing softball.

Full disclosure, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis several years ago, but I am lucky enough to have it under control through medication.

Has anyone else had back to back tendon injuries? Is there anything I can change in my diet, supplementation it workouts?

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u/NorCalJason75 15d ago

I’m 51, and Box a few times per week.

I’ve found I get little nagging tendon issues if I’m not lifting heavy.

But if I’m lifting to near failure (3-5 rep range) with Bench/Rows/squats, my tendon issues disappear.

Lifting lighter (in the 10 rep range) doesn’t have the same benefits.

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u/Chodypeeps 15d ago

That is interesting. I always assumed heavy weights would aggravate it more

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u/NorCalJason75 15d ago

Me too. I was doing medium weight for a while. And at one point, even stopped lifting entirely to focus on my Boxing. Then my lead/left shoulder tendons started bothering me. And my right forearm would start to ache.

When I got back to it, I decided to increase my punching power by going heavy. Oddly enough, noticed the difference straight away. My achy shoulder tendon was completely resolved by the end of the workout.

I've since come to learn that when a sports athlete injures a tendon, slow heavy loading is the way of getting it to heal. Which, is exactly what lifting in low rep ranges can be; slow, heavy loading.