Is it just as easy to tear a muscle doing light weight/high reps?

[Tommy Gunn]

I asked this question on the injury/rehab board but didn't know if it would be more appropriate here. Either way, I'm sure some of you guys can shed some light on this. My question is...

Is it just as easy to tear a muscle doing light weight/high reps as opposed to heavy weight/low reps?

As some of you know I completely tore my pectoralis muscle in late March and had it surgically repaired May 9. My Doctor said that when I go back to lifting in August I should never do heavy weight on the bench press ever again. He said I'm more likely to retair this if I do heavy weight/low reps (>6). He recomended I do light weight/high reps (12-15) that way it has less of a chance at retairing and he said that rep scheme is good at building muscle, increasing muscular endurance, and would be good for strengthening my surgically repaired pectoralis muscle/tendon.

My question is, is my Doctor wrong? Is it just as easy to tear a muscle doing light weight/high reps as opposed to heavy weight/low reps?

One more question, can I build big strong muscles doing reps of 12-15 for all my lifts? Or do I have to go heavy (>6 reps) to acheive this?

[mario_ps2]

it's obviously that (in my opinion) the heavier you lift the greater the percentage of an injury.

For example, I tend to lose the technique when I squat around 4 to 6 reps, so I always do around 10 to 15 reps range.

One thing that you need to have in mind is that the heavier the weight the harder it gets to have the correct technique, besides I believe that the upperbody can be better built by doing 10 to 12 reps with 1 to 1.5 min of rest...

[SwoleCat]

I agree w/that as well.

~SC~

[taiboxa]

i tear shit all the time..
fuxin glass joints!
doesnt matter reps or weight

but yeah lighter is actually theraputic to connective tissue while going very heavy is detrimental

[rockhardman]

I AGREE ALSO U KNOW ill keep it lowest at 10 reps heavy ass weight!!!!!!!

[Tommy Gunn]

SwoleCat I PM'ed you the other day about my injury and recovery. Did you read the PMs? ALOT of people have helped me on this board with advice on my injury recovery, I know you went through a terrible injury and you bounced back and than some.

I know you're busy but if you could, could you check out some of my threads on the injury/rehab board and tell me what you think?

And as to this thread, I know you are a believer in high reps, especially for legs. I can't wait to hit the gym again in August. Hopefully after a few months (when my ruptured pectoral is healed) I'll respond good to low weight/high rep training (12-15 reps). I've never done that I've always kept it heavy in the 6-10 range. I guess we'll wait and see.

[SwoleCat]

I turned off my pm's because of being flooded with ridiculous questions, source checks (which I have NO affiliation with) and other useless requests. People seem to not want to read my signature nor the rules here about what you can/cannot do, and it just got very old/stale. It got to be too much and I can't be bothered with those types of things.

When/if time permits I'll look around for your threads. I am sure you'll do just fine in recovery, keep a positive outlook.

~SC~

[Tommy Gunn]

Thanks Swole. I appreciate it. If you could take a look at my threads regarding my injury, surgery, and recovery that would be great.

It's hard right now to have a positive outlook. Mu Uncle just died of cancer (had the wake last night, funeral this morning), my father's in the hospital, and my Mom (my uncles sister) is a mess (understandably). And to top it all off I got this injury which may haunt me for the rest of my life.

I don't know if I'm ever gonna be as big or strong as I was and I don't know if I'm ever gonna be able to box again. I lost ALOT of muscle and I'm getting a gut. Not to mention I constantly worry that I'm gonna reinjure this breaking up a fight when I go back to working security in September.

Life sux for me right now. But hey, it could always be worse, right?

[Tommy Gunn]

Sorry fellas, I didn't mean to change the topic of my own thread.

[Tommy Gunn]

but yeah lighter is actually theraputic to connective tissue while going very heavy is detrimental

Is this true? So doing reps in the 12-15 range is better for strengthening your tendons as well as your muscles while going with low reps/heavy weight damages your tendons?

Is that why my physical therapist told me when I return to the gym in August doing light weight/high reps (12-15) will actually help heal my injury? Because it is strengthening the muscle/tendon connection?

If that's the case I definitly will give the light weight/high reps thing a try when I return to lifting in August.

[taiboxa]

yeah around 20 is most ideal for connective tissue though.. i believe

[Tommy Gunn]

So I guess doing reps of 12-15 is safer than doing lower/heavier reps, right? Can you build a big strong physique with 12-15 reps though?

[hauss man]

i think everyones body is diferent some may respond better to lower reps etc.

i have tendonitis in my shoulder and am doing pt and using light weight and high reps which is what they recommended

[Tommy Gunn]

I always heard that doing light weight/high reps was good for healing (adding blood flow) and strengthening the tendons. When I get back into training, over the course of the next few months, I was hoping I can somehow stregthen this tendon to where it wouldn't easily tear again.

Is this possible?