Paper Review: Do Male & Female Tendons Heal Differently? from Overcoming Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy

In this episode, Brodie dives into a newly published paper titled “Female Tendons are from Venus and Male Tendons are from Mars: But Does it Matter for Tendon Health?” by Gerard McMahon and Jill Cook. The paper explores how male and female tendons differ in structure, adaptation, healing, and injury risk—and what it means for those dealing with tendinopathy.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

Key structural differences between male and female tendons (size, stiffness, collagen synthesis)
Why female tendons may stretch more but adapt less to training
How men and women respond differently to tendon rehab protocols
Surprising findings about pain, healing, and tendon blood flow
Whether injury prevention or rehab should differ based on sex

📌 Key Takeaways

Female tendons are more compliant, have lower stiffness, and show slower collagen production—even at rest.
Male tendons respond more favorably to traditional rehab (like eccentric loading), often reporting greater pain reduction and functional improvements.
Despite men experiencing more frequent tendon injuries in some data, women may be closer to their strain “danger zone” during exercise, possibly increasing injury risk.
Women may need longer rehab timelines, heavier resistance training (beyond just eccentrics), and closer attention to recovery, nutrition, and hormonal cycles.
Men should be cautious about overloading tendons due to higher force-generating capacity and should still progress gradually.

💡 For Runners With Tendinopathy

Don’t compare your progress to someone of the opposite sex—recovery is sex-specific.
Trust the process: healing may be happening at a microscopic level even if pain relief is slow.
Tailor your rehab by considering not just gender, but also age, training history, injury severity, and more.

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MEDICAL & EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER

The information provided in the Overcoming Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy (PHT) Podcast, YouTube channel, associated websites, social media, and other educational content produced by Brodie Sharpe is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute, and should not be relied upon as, individual medical, physiotherapy, diagnostic or treatment advice.

Although Brodie Sharpe is a qualified physiotherapist, consuming this content does not establish a physiotherapist-patient or other healthcare professional-patient relationship. Any discussion of symptoms, diagnoses, rehabilitation strategies, exercises, loading programs, running modification, medications, supplements, injections, medical procedures or other treatment options is general in nature and may not be appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Musculoskeletal pain can have multiple causes, and symptoms that appear consistent with proximal hamstring tendinopathy or another tendon disorder may arise from other conditions. Appropriate assessment, diagnosis and treatment depend upon an individual's medical history, symptoms, examination findings, medications, health conditions, training history and other factors that cannot be adequately assessed through general online content.

Do not use this content as a substitute for assessment, diagnosis or treatment from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Before starting, stopping or substantially modifying an exercise or rehabilitation program, medication, supplement, injection, procedure or other treatment discussed in this content, seek advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional who can consider your individual circumstances.

Exercise, rehabilitation and medical treatments carry inherent risks. These may include increased pain, symptom flare-ups, aggravation of an existing condition, new injury, adverse reactions or other complications. Individual responses vary and no particular outcome, improvement, recovery timeframe or return to sport can be guaranteed. If an activity or intervention causes significant, unusual or worsening symptoms, stop and seek appropriate professional advice.

References to research, clinical studies, treatment approaches, products or opinions of guests are provided for educational purposes. Scientific evidence evolves over time, may be incomplete or conflicting, and findings from research populations may not apply to every individual. Discussion of a treatment or product does not necessarily constitute an endorsement or recommendation for its use. Views expressed by podcast guests or other contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Brodie Sharpe.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Brodie Sharpe and associated businesses, contractors and contributors accept no liability for loss, injury, damage or adverse outcomes arising from reliance upon or use of this general educational content. Nothing in this disclaimer is intended to exclude, restrict or modify any right, guarantee, remedy or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified under applicable law.

If you believe you may have a serious injury or medical condition, or you develop severe, rapidly worsening or otherwise concerning symptoms, seek prompt assessment from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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