Do rep ranges affect joint wear?

[Nemesis RR]

As I get older, mid 50’s, joint wear is a concern. This is especially after a few joint surgeries. My question is, assuming perfect form, do rep ranges/weight used matter as far as joint wear? Does it matter if I’m training to failure in the 6-8 rep range as opposed to 12-15 rep ranges?

Along the same premise does making a lighter weight more difficult with rep pace, strong contraction, and pause at stretch help with the endeavor of saving wear and tear on the joint?

 

[BeardedGuy]

I have no experience with this but I’ve heard: as you age, you have to learn how to make weight _feel_ heavier…

 

[buck]

I tend to think it doesn't matter for the surface of the joints. As lower weight just means more reps so wear may likley be the same. But as for the tendons connecting the muscle to the bone i think the higher weight is harder on the tendon as the peak load is more at a risk of causing a tear. But that is just my opinion. I started lifting in 1973 and am 65. I have seen no studies on this.

 

[hexagonal]

There's been some evidence that heavy weight + isometric holds or heavy weight + slow and very controlled lifts improve tendon strength/repairs damaged tendons, e.g. Stress Relaxation and Targeted Nutrition to Treat Patellar Tendinopathy - PubMed

 

[Slowww]

I think the rep range does matter in west and tear especially if you’re not technically sound when using maximal loads, if you load joints incorrectly. With higher rep ranges or moderate to light weights 6-20 reps, I find that it is much easier to load it properly and my joints are pain free.
This is not to say you can’t lift as heavy as possible to failure.

When I was powerlifting and especially as I got close to competition my joints would take a real beating as the weights got closer to 1rms, and used lower rep ranges.

Especially on movements that load the elbow I will start with much higher rep ranges or intensifiers and it is much less stress.