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The Effects of Resistance Training on Musculoskeletal Health
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The Effects of Resistance Training on Musculoskeletal Health

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Exercise for Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 4594

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dustin Oranchuk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Muscle Morphology, Mechanics, and Performance Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Interests: aging; biomechanics; morphology; muscle; physiology; sports science; strength; ultrasound

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce this Special Issue of JFMK on “The Effects of Resistance Training on Musculoskeletal Health”. Musculoskeletal health is a critical component of overall well-being, particularly as the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders continues to rise due to aging populations, sedentary lifestyles, and increased participation in sports and recreational activities. Addressing these challenges requires evidence-based strategies that enhance musculoskeletal function, reduce injury risk, and improve rehabilitation outcomes.

Resistance training has emerged as a cornerstone intervention for musculoskeletal health, offering benefits across several musculoskeletal health domains, including muscle strength, bone density, joint stability, and sarcopenia and osteoporosis risk. Additionally, resistance training plays a crucial role in rehabilitation by improving functional capacity and mitigating pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and lower back pain.

Despite the well-documented benefits, resistance training protocols for different populations (e.g., athletes, adolescents, elderly, and clinical populations) remain an active research area. Variables such as training volume, intensity, frequency, and exercise selection influence musculoskeletal adaptations and require further investigation to refine best practices for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term health.

This Special Issue invites researchers to contribute high-quality original studies and reviews that explore the effects of resistance training on musculoskeletal health, covering topics such as, but not limited to, the following:

  • The role of resistance training in preventing and managing musculoskeletal disorders;
  • Mechanisms by which resistance training enhances muscle, bone, and joint health;
  • Optimizing resistance training parameters for rehabilitation and injury prevention;
  • The effects of resistance training on mobility, function, and quality of life in aging populations;
  • Comparative effectiveness of resistance training versus other rehabilitation modalities;
  • Innovations in resistance training methods for musculoskeletal health.

We welcome contributions from experts in exercise science, physical therapy, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and related fields to advance our understanding of how resistance training can be leveraged to improve musculoskeletal health and function.

Dr. Dustin J. Oranchuk
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • athlete
  • bone
  • exercise
  • joint
  • morphology
  • pain
  • rehabilitation
  • sarcopenia
  • strength
  • tendon

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

19 pages, 2544 KB  
Review
Shoulder Complex Dysfunction Through an Evolutionary Lens: The Need for Closed Kinetic Chain Loading in Upper Extremity Program Design
by David Luedeka, Keila Strick, Nickolas Roche and Caroline Williams
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2026, 11(2), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020131 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 488
Abstract
This review examines rotator cuff and shoulder complex dysfunction through an evolutionary framework and aims to translate these concepts into practical resistance training applications for strength and conditioning and rehabilitation professionals. Comparative anatomy and functional biomechanics of the human and non-human primate shoulder [...] Read more.
This review examines rotator cuff and shoulder complex dysfunction through an evolutionary framework and aims to translate these concepts into practical resistance training applications for strength and conditioning and rehabilitation professionals. Comparative anatomy and functional biomechanics of the human and non-human primate shoulder complexes are reviewed to illustrate how evolutionary pressures shaped an upper extremity system optimized for stability and force transmission under closed kinetic chain (CKC) loads. In contrast, many contemporary resistance training practices emphasize high-load, open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises that may impose elevated soft tissue strain and shear forces while potentially diminishing the engagement of the scapulothoracic and trunk stabilization mechanisms evolved to protect the shoulder complex. This proposed evolutionary mismatch may contribute to the high prevalence of shoulder dysfunction observed in the modern human population. Rotator cuff pathology arises through a combination of mechanisms, including, but not limited to, age-related tendon degradation, anatomical variations, mechanical overload factors, as well as systemic comorbidities. The contribution of habitual loading patterns to this multifactorial etiology has been considered in the literature, but this review advances a novel evolutionary mismatch hypothesis as one framework through which a primary biomechanical cause of overuse shoulder pathology may be examined. Applications of these concepts to exercise program design are presented. Specifically, training modifications consider moderately loaded CKC exercises performed at higher volumes with an emphasis on movement velocity and power generation. Incorporating moderate-load, high-volume, high-velocity CKC exercises may preserve rotator cuff integrity and optimize upper extremity function across the lifespan while potentially reducing the loading demands and associated mechanical stress that, under high-load or high-volume conditions, traditional OKC training models place on the shoulder and therefore, challenge the shoulder’s evolved structural tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Resistance Training on Musculoskeletal Health)
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24 pages, 3449 KB  
Review
Collagen Supplementation on Tendon-Related Structural and Performance Outcomes: A Systematic Review
by Albert Buchalski, Michael Jeanfavre, Colby Altorelli and Gretchen Leff
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2026, 11(1), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11010130 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 3590
Abstract
Background: Tendons adapt to mechanical loading by increasing cross-sectional area (CSA), stiffness, and matrix organization, with structural remodeling critical for both rehabilitation and performance. Collagen supplementation has been proposed to enhance this process by supplying key amino acids for collagen synthesis; however, inconsistent [...] Read more.
Background: Tendons adapt to mechanical loading by increasing cross-sectional area (CSA), stiffness, and matrix organization, with structural remodeling critical for both rehabilitation and performance. Collagen supplementation has been proposed to enhance this process by supplying key amino acids for collagen synthesis; however, inconsistent results across trials have limited its clinical and athletic application. Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating collagen supplementation in humans was conducted. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched from database inception through May 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale (≥6/10 classified as good-to-excellent quality). Due to substantial heterogeneity in supplementation protocols, training modalities, and outcome measures, results were synthesized narratively without meta-analysis. Data extraction included collagen type, dose, training modality, intervention duration, and outcome measures. Results: Of 887 unique citations, eight RCTs (n = 257; ages 18–52; 246 M:11 F) met the inclusion criteria. All studies incorporated resistance or plyometric training (3–15 weeks). Three of four studies reported significantly greater increases in tendon CSA in collagen groups versus placebo. Four studies investigated tendon stiffness and Young’s modulus; the two using higher doses (15–30 g/day) demonstrated significant between-group improvements favoring collagen, while lower-dose studies (~5 g) showed only within-group effects. Muscle strength improved with training in all trials, but no additive effects of collagen were observed. One study reported improvements in eccentric rate of force development and deceleration impulse with collagen, though gross explosive metrics (e.g., jump height) were unaffected. Conclusions: Collagen supplementation (15–30 g) with vitamin C (≥50 mg) may enhance tendon remodeling when combined with high-intensity resistance training (≥70% 1 RM). The current literature suggests strong evidence (GRADE A) for increases in tendon CSA and stiffness, strong evidence (GRADE A) against an effect on muscle strength, and conflicting evidence (GRADE C) for muscle cross-sectional area and physical performance. Limitations include small sample sizes, heterogeneous protocols, and short intervention durations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Resistance Training on Musculoskeletal Health)
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