In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Baar talked about the effects of load on tendons and ligaments, how low load long duration loading can improve tendon strength and quality, the effects of stress shielding in tendons, whether resorbable sutures may be superior in tendon repair, why inadequately loaded tendons can develop tendinopathy, the effect of loss of load on tendons and ligaments, how to treat partial ligament tears with isometric exercises, and how increased protein intake is not very effective at increasing tissue recovery without loading and exercise. He also discussed how writing a mission statement helped him make decisions about his lab, why his peers are often his mentors, and why you should start hanging off your door jamb for a few minutes every day.

Dr. Keith Baar is a professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, and the Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, at the University of California Davis Health School of Medicine, in Sacramento. He completed his undergraduate studies in Kinesiology at the University of Michigan, followed by a master's degree in Human Biodynamics at UC Berkeley, and finally a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Illinois. Now at UC Davis Health, he runs the Functional Molecular Biology Lab. His research focuses on how resistance exercise leads to increased muscle mass and how endurance exercise increases fatigue resistance in muscles. His lab is also working on the development of engineered bone-ligament-bone constructs for the reconstruction of ligament injuries.

Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

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Papers referenced in the conversation:

• Effects of Different Loading Programs on Finger Strength in Rock Climbers. Gilmore NK, Klimek P, Abrahamsson E, Baar K. Sports Med Open. 2024 Nov 19;10:125
• Stress Relaxation and Targeted Nutrition to Treat Patellar Tendinopathy. Baar K. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019 Jul 1;29(4):453–457
• Resorbable Suture Is a Suitable Surgical Repair Material in a Rat Achilles Rupture and Repair Model. Gilmore NK, Orr SV, Lam SK, Christiansen BA, Baar K. JBJS Open Access. 2026 May 12;11(2):e26.00079.