The Claim
Twelve weeks of resistance training increases the cross-sectional area of the proximal and midtendon regions in older women but has no effect on patellar tendon stiffness or modulus, irrespective of protein intake level.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
After 12 weeks of strength training, the thickening of the upper and middle parts of the patellar tendon in older women increases, but the tendon's resistance to stretch and stiffness do not change, no matter how much protein is consumed.
See the scientific wording
Resistance training for 12 weeks increases proximal and midtendon cross-sectional area in older women, but does not improve patellar tendon biomechanical properties such as stiffness or modulus, regardless of protein intake level.
When older women do resistance training, the tendons in their knees get pulled repeatedly during leg exercises. This pulling activates cells in the tendon to make more collagen, which builds up and makes the tendon thicker in the upper and middle parts. Even though the tendon gets thicker, the material it's made of doesn't become stronger or stiffer because the new collagen doesn't change how the fibers are organized or bonded together.
What the research says
1 studyStrength training made the upper and middle parts of the kneecap tendon thicker in older women, no matter how much protein they ate — but it didn’t make the tendon stiffer or stronger at the material level. The study confirms this exactly.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.