Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 9/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: does having more muscle mean you have less injuries? like, someone with a normal amount would be more prone to them to someone with more? and pain too for that matter?

ANSWER: Dear Michael,

If your muscles are stronger, you are less likely to suffer injuries to your skeleton and connective tissue because your muscles are doing the work and not the more "breakable" parts of you, such as bone and cartilage.  But strong muscles don't necessarily make you less accident prone.  That has to do with your basic coordination, a function of the nervous system.

Pain perception, also, is a function of the nervous system.  An individual's sensitivity to pain is not likely to change with muscle mass changes.  

Hope that helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well sometimes i get knee pain, so would having more leg muscle prevent that?

Answer
Dear Michael,

If the problem is just from straining your connective tissue, then yes, strengthening your muscles will help alleviate the stress that is now being taken up by your knee connective tissue.

However, if the pain is due to an actual injury of the cartilage, fascia, or tendons in the knee, strengthening the muscles might not be sufficient to completely resolve the pain.  A visit to a good orthopedist will tell you more about what exactly is causing your pain, and how best to treat it.

I hope this helps.

Dana