Why Collagen Is a Game-Changer for Sports Injuries
If you've ever been side lined by a sore knee, sprained ankle, or painful joint, you know how frustrating it is to stop training. Whether you play rugby, run marathons, or hit the gym regularly, injuries can slow you down — and getting back to full strength can take time.
The good news? A growing number of top athletes and sports doctors are using collagen supplements to help speed up recovery, reduce pain, and lower the risk of re-injury.
Professor Greg Whyte OBE, OBE PhD FCASES FACSM, (former Olympian, world renowned sport scientist and Physical Activity Expert) and our co-founder of U Perform, discusses ‘The Role of Collagen in the Treatment of Injury’:
“Tendon, ligament and joint injuries are common in sport and exercise, however, treatment for such injuries remains a challenge often leading to prolonged periods of lost training, repeated re-injury, and permanent functional impairment.
A number of recent studies, including a recent International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus statement on dietary supplements in high-performance athletes have reported that dietary supplementation with hydrolysed collagen is valuable for athletic populations as increased intake of collagen-derived peptides has been shown to: modulate collagen synthesis; reduce tendon, ligament and joint pain; improved mechanical and functional properties; and reduced re-injury rates.
Combined with well-structured strength and return-to-play programmes, supplementation with specific collagen peptides have been shown to accelerate recovery, enhance performance and reduce re-injury in chronic ankle instability, functional knee discomfort, and chronic tendinopathies including Achilles tendinopathy.
Furthermore, nutritional supplementation, including collagen, has been linked to pain reduction in osteoarthritis.
Daily collagen supplementation provides essential support for tendons, ligaments and joints, and is valuable in rehabilitation from injury. U-Perform provides a high quality, informed sport certified collagen supplementation which should be an essential part of an active lifestyle.”
Takeaway Tips
• Injured? Add collagen, but the right collagen, to your daily recovery routine
• Focus on strength work and smart rehab, not just rest
• Collagen can help with pain relief, faster healing, and long-term joint health
• Stay active. Stay strong. Support your body from the inside out.
References
Dressler, P. et al. Improvement of Functional Ankle Properties Following Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides in Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability. J Sp Sci Med 2018;17:298-304.
Praet, S. et al. Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Combined with Calf-Strengthening Exercises Enhances Function and Reduces Pain in Achilles Tendinopathy Patients. Nutrients 2019;11:76-92.
Maughan, R. et al. IOC consensus statement: Dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete. Br. J. Sports Med 2018; 52:439–455.
Shakibaei, M. et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects of TENDOACTIVE(R) on human tenocytes in vitro. Histol. Histopathol. 2011; 26:1173–1185.
Nadal, F. et al. Effectiveness of treatment of tendinitis and plantar fasciitis by TENDOACTIVETM. Osteoarthr. Cartil. OARS Osteoarthr. Res. Soc. 2009; 17:S253.
Zdzieblik, D. et al. Improvement of Activity-Related Knee Joint Discomfort Following Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides. Appl Phys Nutr Metab 2017;42(6):588-595.