Weak Links enhance Strength?

[Guest guest]

Mel Siff wrote:

<<Would this then not imply that even apparently " weak " links in a biological

chain can " strengthen " the overall performance of a linked kinetic chain, so

that we cannot directly apply that popular colloquial saying ( " a chain is

only as strong as its weakest link " ) without careful statement of its scope

and limitations in living systems?>>

Casler:

<No. I don't think stating that a chain " can only be as efficient as the

weakest link in that chain " is inaccurate in any way. Your example only

emphasizes that there are some " portions, parts or segments " that are

certainly stronger and the weaker portions can be strengthened to allow

greater efficiency..

If the application the chain is called on to perform is one of " creation,

transmission, or absorption " of force, then IT IS LIMITED by the weakest

potions of that chain. Calling them soft tissue, or shock absorbers, or

whatever is of no consequence. Greater limit forces cannot be used on weaker

structures, no matter what their functional role.

If you this is how you think a " kinetic chain " functions, we might have to

talk more regarding " force creation, transmission, and absorption " . I know

you Mel and you cannot for a second think that a chain can be made stronger

by " not " conditioning the weaker links to their maximum. I must be seriously

misunderstanding this post. Their (sic) is no way allowing a link to not be

conditioned to its strongest potential will result in an equally strong

chain. Period.>

*** I am only asking that people question the unconditional application of

the aphorism that a " chain is only as strong as its weakest link " and thereby

come to a better understanding of its relevance in biological systems.

Each type of tissue in the body may be increased in strength to a certain

extent and the " weaker " elements will always be proportionately weaker than

the stronger elements. Another complicating factor is that the strength of

many tissues changes with loading or load rate, so that it is misleading and

inaccurate to make any universal claims about a given structure always being

stronger in the body under all conditions.

In other words, it is more accurate to state that " chain is only as strong as

its weakest link at a given moment under given conditions " and that this

might not be true under other conditions. In this regard, it might also be

relevant to point out that a link which is 'strongest' under certain

conditions and at certain times is not the strongest under different

conditions and at different times.

Casler:

<So I stand firmly on my original statement of, " the transmission of force

through the kinetic chain can only be as efficient as the weakest link in

that chain. " >

*** A major problem still remains: Why then is it not at all uncommon for

some of the apparently strongest components in the limbs to be injured before

the weaker components? For example, tendons or ligaments should not rupture

because they are mechanical much stronger than muscle tissue - and at certain

loading rates they are even stronger than bone. Every orthopaedic clinic is

filled with patients whose 'stronger' links have failed before their 'weaker'

links. Explain.

Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/