– How is it apes don’t tear their muscles, tendons and ligaments when using their massive strength?

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As I understand it, apes are able to activate far more muscle fibers at once, something like 5 times the number a human can do, and this is what gives them their massive strength. The thing is, a very strong human, like a powerlifter, and plowing out their muscles, tendons and ligaments once they get past a certain point. And they are not activating any more muscles fibers than the next guy. How is it a chimp can do these powerful things and not end up in the waiting room of their orthopedic surgeon? I can understand if their parts were even twice as tough as a humans, but 5 times?

In: Biology

8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

For the same reason you don’t tear your arms off for throwing a fast ball.

Their entire bodies evolved at the same time. For every bit of added muscle, so too was a tendon and bone changed to support it.

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