Tendon Rehab Isn’t Just Eccentrics: What Every Coach Needs to Know About Load, Timing, and Hormones

Tendon pain? Rehab plateauing? Still loading eccentrically like it’s 2005? This video is for you.

In this long-form deep dive, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about tendon and ligament rehabilitation—from the science of load timing to why your collagen protocol might be missing the mark. Whether you're working with elite basketball athletes or managing chronic tendon stress in a weight room setting, this is the video you’ll want bookmarked and referenced repeatedly.

Topics Covered in This Video:

🧵 The Real Architecture of Tendons
● Collagen types, orientation, and what makes tendons strong
● What stress shielding is, and why it changes how tendons adapt to load

⏱️ Timing Matters: Understanding Tendon Refractoriness
● Why Keith Barr’s research shifted how we think about load spacing
● The 6-hour window for optimal collagen remodeling
● What happens when we overload too soon—or not at all

🦵 Isometrics vs. Eccentrics: What the Research Says
● Why isometrics may outperform eccentrics in tendon healing phases
● How load velocity matters more than you think
● Practical strategies for choosing protocols based on stage of injury

⛓️ Stress Shielding and Tendon Load Distribution
● What happens when some parts of the tendon don’t share the load
● Why improper loading can increase injury risk
● Movement variability and why it’s not just fluff

🧪 Collagen Supplementation and Vitamin C
● The timing of collagen intake for tendon remodeling
● What dosages are being used in real protocols
● Why gelatin may actually matter

💊 Estrogen and Tendon Stiffness in Female Athletes
● How hormone fluctuations can impact tendon resilience
● ACL injury implications and what we can do about it
● Strength training strategies to buffer hormonal softening of tissue

📋 Sample Tendon Training Protocols
● 10–30 second isometric holds: where and when they matter
● Protocol variations based on pathology and pain status
● Example week of tendon loading post-injury

👀 Who Is This Video For?
Strength & Conditioning Coaches
Athletic Trainers and Rehab Professionals
Physical Therapists
Sport Scientists
Collegiate Performance Staff
Athletes recovering from chronic tendon issues

If you're tired of blanket eccentric-only recommendations or need to sharpen how you load tissue under fatigue, this video gives you the nuance—and practicality—you’ve been looking for.

🧠 References & Credits:
Dr. Keith Barr (UC Davis tendon research)
Real-world protocol application from elite-level basketball rehab programs
Clinical best practices across elite sport and return-to-play models

📈 Keywords for Search:
Tendon rehab, Keith Barr tendon research, eccentric vs isometric loading, stress shielding tendons, collagen supplementation for tendons, vitamin C for tendon healing, estrogen ACL risk, tendon stiffness women, ligament rehab basketball, sports performance tissue loading, tendon pain recovery tips, long-form sports science tendon loading

💬 Comment below with how you're currently structuring tendon rehab protocols—or questions you’ve had about collagen, timing, and performance outcomes.

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