What causes pectoral tears?

[Donny]

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.

I´ve never used steroids & i made good gains on a 5 day split, lots of overlap when training the muscle groups because you can´t isolate a muscle group entirely.

[BB]

Bill Kazmaier tore his pec in the 80s. I had never heard of anyone experiencing this before.

This is an interesting thing, I, too, don't recall many torn pecs pre late 70s (although I wonder if that's due to lax reporting not specify type of injury). It would be interesting to see a breakdown of pre late 70s pec injuries versus lifter weight, maximum poundage lifted, and total training time.

In my mind the older lifters were fatter, had more time under bar to reach their records, and the maximum poundage was light compared to the newer lifters.

[Humble Narcissist]

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.

I only hit each muscle group directly once a week but I'm old.

[IroNat]

I only hit each muscle group directly once a week but I'm old.

I'm only hypothesizing.

[Van_Bilderass]

Hard to know without statistics lol, but I think pec tears could be much more frequent if it wasn't for lots of trainers warning bodybuilders of the flat bench injury risk. For decades there have been warnings and many pros have been in the "I don't flat bench" camp. Not only because of the injury risk but also because they have thought inclines build a better looking pec or they say that they can't feel their pecs on the flat bench. I think they are mistaken here in a few ways; for example I think flat or very low inclines hit the pecs, probably even the upper pecs, better than the average angle incline set-up. I remember noticing a few of the 'mostly incline' champions curiously having most of their pec mass in the lower pecs (a lot of which is genetic too I'm sure)

[MAXX]

Hard to know without statistics lol, but I think pec tears could be much more frequent if it wasn't for lots of trainers warning bodybuilders of the flat bench injury risk. For decades there have been warnings and many pros have been in the "I don't flat bench" camp. Not only because of the injury risk but also because they have thought inclines build a better looking pec or they say that they can't feel their pecs on the flat bench. I think they are mistaken here in a few ways; for example I think flat or very low inclines hit the pecs, probably even the upper pecs, better than the average angle incline set-up. I remember noticing a few of the 'mostly incline' champions curiously having most of their pec mass in the lower pecs (a lot of which is genetic too I'm sure)

Im not sure why inlcine would be less risk? what is the reasoning that flat is worst?

I'll include this incline bench for fun 

[Van_Bilderass]

Im not sure why inlcine would be less risk? what is the reasoning that flat is worst?

That's what most believe and it's probably true that it's more common on flat but that might be due to generally heavier loading and more frequent maxing and ego lifting too? Certainly the way I did it to the neck with a very wide grip really stretched the pec. The way Ruhl did it

[IroNat]

I can't see how incline would be safer except as mentioned above because people use less weight.

[Donny]

I can't see how incline would be safer except as mentioned above because people use less weight.

a Good video.. Incline feels better for me but i´m not against say Decline work.
flat press I used to like with Dumbbells but nowadays i don´t bother with it.

[Beefjake]

Not getting injured is one aspect of being gifted in something.

Now is being gifted always genetic or is it cumulation of things that was done in the past as kid and youth?
Propably both.

I bet someone said when Kaz tore his pec that human body ain’t supposed to handle such loads.
Then 300kgs/660lbs became more frequent.

Gym is usually one of the safest way to exercise since there isn’t any sudden movements.
I’ve run distance, sprints and played football. Still pulled my calf by walking the stairs.

Eh… what was the question 😃🤔

So who knows.

[_bruce_]

Better 

The final boss of tendonitis

[GymnJuice]

Not getting injured is one aspect of being gifted in something.

Now is being gifted always genetic or is it cumulation of things that was done in the past as kid and youth?
Propably both.

I bet someone said when Kaz tore his pec that human body ain’t supposed to handle such loads.
Then 300kgs/660lbs became more frequent.

Gym is usually one of the safest way to exercise since there isn’t any sudden movements.
I’ve run distance, sprints and played football. Still pulled my calf by walking the stairs.

Eh… what was the question 😃🤔

So who knows.

Yeah I've seen several other people who got bicep tears from water skiing.

[wes]

Yeah I've seen several other people who got bicep tears from water skiing.

Tons of guys train like freaking animals then tear something moving a lamp or carrying groceries.

[unwieldy]

just read this book

Is it necessary? this one page seems sufficient

[IroNat]

Not getting injured is one aspect of being gifted in something.

Now is being gifted always genetic or is it cumulation of things that was done in the past as kid and youth?
Propably both.

I bet someone said when Kaz tore his pec that human body ain’t supposed to handle such loads.
Then 300kgs/660lbs became more frequent.

Gym is usually one of the safest way to exercise since there isn’t any sudden movements.
I’ve run distance, sprints and played football. Still pulled my calf by walking the stairs.

Eh… what was the question 😃🤔

So who knows.

Excellent point.
Emmitt Smith had a very long football career with a lot of carries but never had a career ending injury.
He had a difficult shoulder injury and minor knee injuries but never an ACL or severe knee injury.
Pretty amazing.  Some guys are very prone to injuries.

[balzac]

Tons of guys train like freaking animals then tear something moving a lamp or carrying groceries.

 



Quad Tear (2011): Slipped on a wet curb during a thunderstorm, tearing his quad tendon completely off the bone. Despite doubts about his career, he returned to win the 2012 Arnold Classic.
Achilles Tendon Tear (2024): Suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a deer hunting trip in December 2024, requiring surgery.

[wes]

Quad Tear (2011): Slipped on a wet curb during a thunderstorm, tearing his quad tendon completely off the bone. Despite doubts about his career, he returned to win the 2012 Arnold Classic.
Achilles Tendon Tear (2024): Suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a deer hunting trip in December 2024, requiring surgery.

...and once fell out of a monster truck !!

[joswift]

...and once fell out of couldnt get into a monster truck !!

fixed