What causes pectoral tears?

[JK]

Too much weight, too much volume, not enough rest between workouts.

It's true. People often say that muscle recovery only takes 48-72 hours, so you can confidently train every body part intensely two or three times a week, but tendons need much longer to recover than muscles.

[Griffith]

It's true. People often say that muscle recovery only takes 48-72 hours, so you can confidently train every body part intensely two or three times a week, but tendons need much longer to recover than muscles.

Once a week works best for me if training heavier.

[JK]

Once a week works best for me if training heavier.

Same thing with me.

[Van_Bilderass]

Once a week works best for me if training heavier.

Same thing with me.

Experiences may vary but I doubt most make faster progress by training much more frequently anyway. One strange thing with steroids is that they dont seem to make you be able to lift more frequently, in every instance Ive seen when guys start steroids they instinctively cut their volume plus frequency. Naturals seem to tolerate more lifting. I dont know if its neural or what. Just what Ive seen, if someone sees guys start training more when hopping on gear let me know When I was at my biggest and strongest I lifted once a week doing about 5 working sets total for the whole body. I almost couldnt say lifted at all LOL.

[Humble Narcissist]

My friend's training partner tore his pectoral muscle while natty, but because of his stupidity - he tried to break his personal best 1RM during every chest workout.

I used to train like that back in my 20's.

[wes]

My friend's training partner tore his pectoral muscle while natty, but because of his stupidity - he tried to break his personal best 1RM during every chest workout.

Like I said....too heavy,too often, and maxing out way too often.

Hatfield cycled his poundages in percentages.

[IroNat]

Crying pectoral tears?

[JK]

Experiences may vary but I doubt most make faster progress by training much more frequently anyway. One strange thing with steroids is that they dont seem to make you be able to lift more frequently, in every instance Ive seen when guys start steroids they instinctively cut their volume plus frequency. Naturals seem to tolerate more lifting. I dont know if its neural or what. Just what Ive seen, if someone sees guys start training more when hopping on gear let me know When I was at my biggest and strongest I lifted once a week doing about 5 working sets total for the whole body. I almost couldnt say lifted at all LOL.

I have the exact same experience as you. Since taking steroids, I've found that low volume and high intensity work best for me.

[JK]

Like I said....too heavy,too often, and maxing out way too often.

Hatfield cycled his poundages in percentages.

That's right. Some people never accept this and think they have to break records at every training session or they won't give their all.

[wes]

That's right. Some people never accept this and think they have to break records at every training session or they won't give their all.

Yup...patience is a virtue....."the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".

[IroNat]

Supposedly, steroids keep you in a continuous anabolic state so there is no need to train too frequently.
Natties however need to train more often to renew anabolism.

[Van_Bilderass]

Supposedly, steroids keep you in a continuous anabolic state so there is no need to train too frequently.
Natties however need to train more often to renew anabolism.

Yes plus anti-catabolism. From personal experience you can stop lifting for months but if you keep a little testosterone going you can almost pick up where you left off when you go back to it. You lose a tiny bit of the "pump" or inflammation but it's back after one or two workouts. It used to be that old timer juicers said steroids do nothing but help speed recovery so you can train more and grow more Not in  my experience, can't tolerate a ton of lifting when on lots of roids. Not that they impede recovery I don't think but there's something about it where you just don't find yourself in the gym as much (that's if you were a natural doing a ton of volume previously).

[Flexacon]

Ex wives and car doors

[MAXX]

Every guy I've seen tear a pec was on gear. Do natties get muscle tears?

yes they do many do

[pamith]

Pec tears happen when going too heavy, maxing out on the bench or incline bench, anyone going for higher reps like 10+ should be ok!

[MAXX]

In my opinion... several contributing factors

these could be imo main factors::

*being cold while lifting (alot of people tearing stuff complain about how they did it cold). When cold blood leaves you extremities and muscle to heat up your core and vital organs= less fluid/blood in the muscle

*rapid strength gain. when training is going good and progress is fast. tendons are not as quick to adapt to the muscle increase.

*tendonitis(this is dubious because it creeps up slowly)- part reason why I tore my patellar tendon.

*dehydration/mineral inbalance- obviously makes one more prone to injury

[Lartinos]

Being mostly unemployed since 2010.

Previous race driving crashes

Domestic issues involving car doors.

Kiteboarding wear and tear

History of Chrohn’s

Overconsumption of French Toast

[Methyl m1ke]

That's right. Some people never accept this and think they have to break records at every training session or they won't give their all.

Essentially this is what it takes. If something is within your capacity it will not change you.

[French]

just read this book

[wes]

Ex wives and car doors

[Donny]

Better 

[Humble Narcissist]

Supposedly, steroids keep you in a continuous anabolic state so there is no need to train too frequently.
Natties however need to train more often to renew anabolism.

How often?

[MAXX]

Don't do heavy benches with the elbows flared while on steroids which dramatically increase the risk of tears. I tore both pecs in my early 20s pushing very heavy loads, increasing poundage by 100lbs in a few months and stupid things like that. My most serious tear occurred doing wide grip incline benches to the neck in the smith machine which I'd seen Ed Coan recommend somewhere IIRC. Very vulnerable position. As I recall I had about 280lbs on and was planning on 10-12 and on the 3rd it happened. Benching was crazy fun though and I didnt think it would happen so early in my lifting career. The real tragedy for me was that my surgery was delayed and the result was awful.

funny you say that about the smith incline. I just recently nearly tore my pec on that. Or it tore a little bit probably. I could feel the velcro ripping feeling inside my pec. But I manage to drop it while transfering the load to my right side and rack it quickly. If I would continue pressing uppwards I'm pretty sure it would rip completly.. This was about month ago and I have just now just tested doing pushups and so far so good those feel fine and so it will be the rehab i do to get good bloodflow in the pec again.

[IroNat]

How often?

Today's gear heads hit a muscle group once a week.

Powerlifters commonly do the bench, squat and deadlift once per week each and also several assistance exercises for each lift on the day.

The pre-steroid oldtimers hit a muscle group it 2-3 times a week with 6-12 sets per workout.

So, maybe that's right for natties.

I don't recall hearing about torn pecs in the 70s and early 80s.

I do think the use of anabolics nowadays without building a solid base from time spent natural training has something to do with the current frequency of pec tears.
The connective tissues just never get the chance to toughen up before being subjected to heavy loads.