Tendons with Chris Johnson

04/07/25 • 71 min

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Chris Johnson and Tendon Rehabilitation 03:08 Understanding Exercise Monotherapy in Tendon Rehab 05:48 The Importance of Loading in Tendon Recovery 08:56 Chris's Journey and Mentorship in Physical Therapy 12:11 Rehabilitation Insights from ACL Injuries 14:56 Exploring Patellar Tendinopathy and Its Variants 17:55 Differentiating Tendon Pain in Athletes 20:59 Pain Management and Acceptable Levels in Rehab 23:47 The Role of Isometrics in Tendon Rehabilitation 26:58 The Debate on Pain Levels in Tendon Rehab 30:03 Conclusions and Future Directions in Tendon Rehab 36:09 Navigating Knee Rehabilitation Strategies 39:58 Exploring Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) in Rehab 46:41 Balancing Activity and Rehabilitation in Athletes 51:07 The Importance of Warm-Up and Cool Down 55:41 Understanding Tendon Stiffness and Rehabilitation Methods 01:00:17 Psychosocial Factors in Tendinopathy Rehabilitation 01:03:41 Compression and Loading in Tendon Health 01:06:34 The Role of Mechanical Transduction in Tendon Adaptation

Takeaways

Exercise monotherapy simplifies tendon rehab by focusing on key loading strategies.
Loading the tissue is crucial for effective tendon rehabilitation.
Education and communication are vital in managing patient expectations and outcomes.
Isometrics can be beneficial but may not work for everyone.
Pain management in rehab is nuanced and should be individualized.
Understanding the athlete's background helps tailor rehab strategies.
Patellar tendinopathy presents differently in various athletes and requires specific approaches.
The importance of restoring quad function in knee injuries cannot be overstated.
Reactive tendinopathy cases can often resolve quickly with proper management.
The debate on acceptable pain levels in rehab continues, emphasizing the need for individualized approaches. Consider alternative exercises like reverse Nordic for knee rehab.
Gradually increase load and time to fatigue the quads.
Warm-up routines can significantly impact tendon health.
Compression forces are unavoidable in running; manage them wisely.
Psychosocial factors play a crucial role in tendinopathy recovery.
NMES can be a last resort for irritable tendons.
Maintaining activity is essential for athletes during rehab.
Walking warm-ups can enhance performance and recovery.
Tendon stiffness is critical for injury prevention.
Understanding mechanical transduction is vital for effective rehab.

Website: https://chrisjohnsonpt.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisjohnsonthept/?hl=en

Notes: https://jackedathlete.com/podcast-139-tendons-with-chris-johnson/

Chapters

Takeaways

Exercise monotherapy simplifies tendon rehab by focusing on key loading strategies.
Loading the tissue is crucial for effective tendon rehabilitation.
Education and communication are vital in managing patient expectations and outcomes.
Isometrics can be beneficial but may not work for everyone.
Pain management in rehab is nuanced and should be individualized.
Understanding the athlete's background helps tailor rehab strategies.
Patellar tendinopathy presents differently in various athletes and requires specific approaches.
The importance of restoring quad function in knee injuries cannot be overstated.
Reactive tendinopathy cases can often resolve quickly with proper management.
The debate on acceptable pain levels in rehab continues, emphasizing the need for individualized approaches. Consider alternative exercises like reverse Nordic for knee rehab.
Gradually increase load and time to fatigue the quads.
Warm-up routines can significantly impact tendon health.
Compression forces are unavoidable in running; manage them wisely.
Psychosocial factors play a crucial role in tendinopathy recovery.
NMES can be a last resort for irritable tendons.
Maintaining activity is essential for athletes during rehab.
Walking warm-ups can enhance performance and recovery.
Tendon stiffness is critical for injury prevention.
Understanding mechanical transduction is vital for effective rehab.

Website: https://chrisjohnsonpt.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisjohnsonthept/?hl=en

Notes: https://jackedathlete.com/podcast-139-tendons-with-chris-johnson/

Previous Episode

Tendons with Taylor Starch

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tendons and Human Performance 06:31 Understanding Tendon Injuries and Variability 12:32 The Complexity of Connective Tissue 18:06 Innovative Approaches to Tendon Training 27:55 High Intensity vs. Low Intensity Training for Tendons 30:40 Understanding Tendon Strain in Endurance Athletes 33:21 Connective Tissue Behavior and Injury Prevention 36:52 The Role of Genetics and Abnormal Connective Tissue 39:45 Assessing and Training Connective Tissue 43:11 Restoring Normal Connective Tissue Architecture 46:59 Manipulating Load, Length, and Time for Adaptation 50:40 Dynamic vs. Static Training for Connective Tissue 54:12 Integrating Multiple Training Qualities 58:52 Programming for Adaptation, Not Just Exercises

Takeaways

Taylor Starch has been in the strength and conditioning industry for about 15 years.
His interest in tendons grew from personal injuries and working with military athletes.
Understanding tendons requires recognizing their complexity and variability.
Different tissues in the body respond to different types of training.
Tendons need strain to gain strength and resilience.
Training should not just focus on one position or angle.
Low intensity durability is crucial for tendon health.
High intensity repeatability helps in sustaining performance under strain.
The bigger the base of connective tissue strength, the higher the peak performance.
Innovative training methods can help address specific tendon issues effectively. Endurance athletes experience significant tendon strain but manage it effectively.
Connective tissue behavior is crucial for injury prevention.
Genetics play a role in tendon health and injury susceptibility.
Assessing connective tissue is essential for understanding injury risk.
Training should focus on restoring normal connective tissue architecture.
Manipulating load, length, and time is key to adaptation.
Static training is often overlooked in favor of dynamic work.
Integrating multiple training qualities is necessary for performance.
Understanding adaptations is more important than just knowing exercises.
Progressive overload is essential for long-term connective tissue health.

Notes: https://jackedathlete.com/podcast-138-tendons-with-taylor-starch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorstarch/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tstarch970?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYQuk422aWUg2arerIGW4py8gg_mLdIimiWQcfaDF7LkSzDdZBpe_Y5Mjk_aem_-EGNK8iC0Ym8ve33DSyQUg

Next Episode

Rotator Cuff Tendons with Jared Powell

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy 03:13 Understanding Shoulder Pain and Its Complexities 06:04 The Shift from Impingement to Rotator Cuff Related Pain 09:00 The Role of Imaging in Shoulder Pain Diagnosis 11:58 Common Mismanagement in Shoulder Pain Treatment 15:10 Loading Programs for Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation 18:04 Positional vs. Energy Storage Tendons 20:59 The Nature of Rotator Cuff Tears 24:07 The Tipping Point to Pain in Rotator Cuff Pathology 32:53 Understanding Rotator Cuff Tears 39:26 The Role of Exercise in Recovery 46:47 Pain Management and Rehabilitation Strategies 55:19 Exploring the Mechanisms of Tendon Pain 01:00:18 The Importance of Tendon Stiffness

Takeaways

Rotator cuff related shoulder pain accounts for 70-80% of shoulder pain presentations.
Pain is complex and multifactorial, making diagnosis challenging.
The traditional impingement model is being challenged in favor of a broader understanding of shoulder pain.
Imaging often does not influence management decisions for rotator cuff issues.
Corticosteroid injections provide only short-term relief and can have negative effects on tendon quality.
Exercise-based management is crucial for effective rehabilitation of shoulder pain.
The rotator cuff tendons are positional and strain less than energy storage tendons.
Rotator cuff tears are common and can exist without pain or dysfunction.
Age is the biggest risk factor for developing rotator cuff pathology.
Understanding the tipping point to pain is essential for effective treatment. Rotator cuff tears are often associated with poor vascular supply and degeneration over time.
Metabolic factors like diabetes and smoking can increase the risk of rotator cuff tears.
Exercise can be as effective as surgery for massive rotator cuff tears.
Expectations of recovery significantly influence rehabilitation outcomes.
Education about the commonality of tendon tears can help reduce patient anxiety.
Pain during exercise can be tolerated up to a certain level without adverse effects.
Sleeping positions can impact shoulder pain and should be modified accordingly.
Adjunct treatments like shockwave therapy and corticosteroids have limited long-term benefits.
Tendon stiffness is important for efficient force transfer, but its role in pain management is still being studied.
Understanding the psychological aspects of pain can enhance recovery from tendon injuries.