Mechanical Input

Footwear changes should be understood as changes in tissue loading rather than as inherently good or bad. Generic exercise is not sufficient to stimulate all connective tissues appropriately. Loading refers to stresses placed on muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and skin. Light, consistent mechanical stress on the targeted tissue is sufficient to direct collagen utilization and beats no load every time. Connective tissues such as joints, tendons, and cartilage respond to physical demand, and the body allocates maintenance resources to tissues based on the load they bear. Without mechanical stress on the target tissue, supplemental collagen has no signal directing it to build that specific tissue. Collagen powder supplies raw material but does not automatically rebuild connective tissues without specific mechanical signals. Different tissues require different types, speeds, timing, and rest patterns of mechanical loading. When a tissue is not mechanically loaded, the body interprets that absence as a signal that the tissue is unnecessary and progressively reduces its upkeep. High heels keep the Achilles tendon in a shortened position, while flat minimalist shoes load tissues diff…