I’ve got a lot of questions about that article on which AAS are good and bad for collagen and cross linking.
We’ve almost all read it, and it gets quoted, a lot.
My problem with it is that is never sited any sources. No studies to back it up.
It looked like it was based on Bro-Science or Anecdotal evidence.
It may all be correct, but then again there is a lot there that is QUESTIONABLE.
For example, the assertion that good old testosterone itself lowers collagen synthesis.
Can someone please show me a study that clearly shows this? I will certainly give it a read.
It seems to be common knowledge that testosterone increases GH and IGF-1 Production.
So the conflict here? If it is going to increase growth factors that do effect connective tissues in a positive way, then it stands to reason it actually strengthens tendons.
But wait, aren’t there guys who tear tendons while using test only cycles? Well yeah, lots of them. Then again there are guys who tear tendons using ANY aas, and even guys who tear them who are 100% lifetime natural. The incidence seems to be higher among AAS users. Again, that does not prove cause and effect.
Could it just as easily be that the RATE of growth of tendons is slower than that of muscles? Say a guy has both muscle and tendon that each can handle 150 pounds of resistance. The muscle can suddenly handle 300 pounds and the tendon can now handle 200. There is a problem now when he loads up with 300 pounds and does some low rep heavy weight Branchorilla momentum sets.
There have been some IFBB Pros who are well known to use moderate weight and a higher volume with perfect form approach. These guys tend to have all their original tendon insertions too.
So these does seem to be a clear relationship between training safely vs. hardcoreossity grrr!
On the other hand there are guys who swear that deca “healed” their shoulder/hip/ and gluteal bullet wound.
Do we know for sure deca in and of itself “healed” it?
They used Deca. The pain went away. Does that prove cause and effect?
Lots of guys have also been injured WHILE using Deca too however.
Is it possible it is just making the pain go away? Maybe a combo of the two?
My point is that we do not know for sure.
Real world experience has its uses.
It also has it limitations. One big on is cause and effect. Pain killers can make joints feel great too. They wont prevent injury, but if you used it and just did not happen to get injured you could easily assume that the pain killer healed you too.
Same thing for EQ and Var and the other stuff listed in that article that gets spread all over the bodybuilding forums like a hot chick with daddy issues. I’m not saying this chick does not have her uses, but I would like to know if there is anything wrong with her before hopping on board myself.
Meaning I want to see some studies that actually can confirm or dispel this info about testosterone weakening tendons and EQ and Deca and Var strengthening them before “assuming” this is the case.
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