I recently came across an article discussing the concept that women’s tendons are less stiff, suggesting that female fast bowlers should place more emphasis on tendon training and less on muscle development. While I partially agree with tendon stiffness theory, however, it’s crucial to understand that multiple factors, beyond hormones like training, muscle mass, genetics, etc., play a significant role in deciding our tendon structure.

I’d like to present a different perspective on the subject, emphasizing why it’s essential to study research findings in the right context and why they should not be universally applied, particularly in the case of women’s tendon stiffness in fast bowlers.

Example: if you look at the female fast bowler calf muscle group, it is apparent that she has a perfect tendon stiff/strength matching muscle mass and hence the perfect recruitment as is prominent from the picture.

Ques: Could she have pulled the muscle more perfectly?

I doubt it.

Ques: But could she add power to this movement?

Yes. Everybody can. Who knows what our maximum is! The more we train, the better we get.

Tendon stiffness and muscle recruitment go hand in hand. One can’t perform without the other. It is the imbalance (created my mechanical strain) at the joint that alters the muscle pull and further muscle recruitment. When we train the tendon, we train the muscle. When we train the muscle, we train the tendon. What matters then? It is how we train the musculature depending on what we expect from it. If we training at the gym then our training circles around muscle contraction which ensures tendon pull. If we are training movement then we train the mechanics of putting mechanical strain which is essentially the ability to recruit muscle efficiently.

When we delve into the idea of women having less stiff tendons compared to men, it’s typically a broad comparison that lacks specificity. To better understand this, let’s consider one fundamental aspect of speed and power: the synchronization of muscle contraction speed with tendon pull speed.

Herein lies the challenge: how can we pinpoint whether the issue primarily lies with tendon pull or muscle contraction? The reality is that it’s a complex interplay between the two because they are inherently interdependent.

To illustrate this further, let’s use the example of training the biceps in the gym. When we engage in bicep training, we simultaneously strengthen both the biceps tendon and the muscle. It’s not a matter of prioritizing one over the other.

I’m not advocating against tendon training; in fact, techniques like plyometrics and various drills are valuable tools for enhancing both tendon and muscle function. However, the ultimate objective of these exercises is to enhance the speed of tendon movements and train muscles to contract more rapidly, all while harmonizing the timing of both components via activation of muscle spindles & golgi tendon.

It’s important to emphasize that not everyone with well-developed leg muscles can run fast, and not everyone with big butt can bowl faster. The limiting factor isn’t solely tendon strength or the absence of tendon training. Agree?

The crux of the matter lies in our movement patterns:

  • Precise joint movements contribute to the integrity of supporting structures such as ligaments & connective tissue.
  • Optimal joint movement leads to a perfect tendon pull on the bone.
  • Flawless execution of muscle pulls ensures physiological muscle contractions.

In this intricate interplay of movements, achieving seamless joint motion and precise muscle pulls leads to the activation of a maximum number of motor units. This, in essence, is the core of effective training.

So, why do we often encounter structural issues that may lead to injuries? The answer doesn’t predominantly revolve around tendon strength; instead, it’s rooted in the biomechanical strains that are unique to each fast bowler and can affect the ankle, knee, and hip joints differently. This distinction explains why bowlers may encounter issues with these joints, contingent on their bowling action and individual strengths and weaknesses.

For a more in-depth exploration of this concept, please refer to the detailed article that delves into how movement lies at the core of injuries:

Biomechanics & reinjury – the connect!