Strong healthy tendons and ligaments are crucial for mobility, and maintaining an active lifestyle, and good quality of life.
Ligaments are the bands of tough connective tissue around joints (such as knees, elbows, ankles, shoulders and hips etc.) that bind bones together. They give your joints support and restrict their movement so that they don’t twist too much or dislocate. Injuries such as stretching or tearing them can make joints unstable. Tendons connect the muscles to bones, also helping to stabilise structure, and they facilitate body movement by transmitting the force which the muscles exert.
Essential for movement control, stability, and improved mobility it is important to try and avoid soft tissue injuries (those affecting muscles, tendons and ligaments), a common concern for those who are active and participate in all levels of sport, or any sport, whether that be running, cycling, swimming, climbing, football, golf or workouts at the gym…
Overuse of tendons is a common reason for most injuries in sport. Strength, power and speed rely on rigid tendons, which betters performance. However, harder tendons are more prone to injury. High performing tendons and ligaments need to combine strength and flexibility, and collagen fibres give them the ideal elasticity for optimal performance and functioning. Collagen fibre degeneration is a significant factor in tendon injuries; they can be slow to recover and disrupt training – something which any high performance athlete or exercise enthusiast will want to avoid. The impact of such injury is not just physical, it can affect the individual mentally as well.
Collagen is the human body’s basic building block, and is the most abundant natural protein, accounting for around a third of our total body protein. It is necessary for skin, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and is one of the primary structural proteins of connective tissues. Collagen is vital to help us stay active, for maintaining mobile stable joints, strong bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments, as well as healthy hair, skin and nails.
TENDOFORTE® is a composition of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides® which have been specifically isolated for the repair of collagen-based tissues (ligaments and tendons). Pre-clinical and clinical trials show positive effects on the health and quality of ligaments and tendons, especially when combined with physical activity/rehabilitation exercises. Results show a considerable decrease in the risk of injury, as well as improvement in flexibility. It significantly strengthens tendons and ligaments and there are further studies underway.
What do the scientific studies say?
TENDOFORTE® has been formulated to optimise the stimulation of biosynthesis of new extracellular matrix molecules (collagens, proteoglycans and elastic fibres) required for healthy tendons and ligaments, accelerating tissue repair.
One study has shown that it benefits the biosynthesis of matrix molecules of tendons and ligaments, suggesting a role for Bioactive Collagen Peptides® in reducing the risk of injuries and rupture. A first experiment in-vitro saw that Fibroblasts obtained from human ligaments and Achilles tendons produced significantly more tissue matrix when directly exposed to the Bioactive Collagen Peptides® of TENDOFORTE®. The RNA expression of collagen increased significantly, and the synthesis of the most prominent component of the ligament matrix – elastin, increased by approximately 50%. As well as this, the breakdown of tissue was also reduced.
Another initial clinical trial showed improvements in the mechanical stability of finger ligaments. The oral ingestion of specific collagen peptides were shown to improve extension properties of the finger joints due to firmer ligaments.
In an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) study, participants starting with TENDOFORTE® supplementation returned to running faster. Examining the benefits of supplementation over a 6 month period (cross-over study design) showed the efficacy of TENDOFORTE®. 20 participants with long-term symptoms of chronic Achilles tendinopathy, who were unable to train and non-respondent to traditional therapies were started on a daily intake of 5g TENDOFORTE® combined with a highly specialised exercise program. Within 3 months, 12 out of 20 were able to return to running, and the effect showed to be long-term – The group starting with TENDOFORTE® still had beneficial effects after the 3 month wash-out phase.
A randomised controlled study was carried out in 2017 where 60 men and women with ankle point instability were given a daily 5g intake of TENDOFORTE® over a period of 6 months. Results showed significant improvement in ankle stability during daily activity and sports, as well as significantly less injuries.
Backed by science TENDOFORTE® would be a welcome and effective nutritional intervention for strong tendons and ligaments for any active and athletic individual, helping to sustain high physical performance and also facilitate fast return to training. For further information or to buy click here, or visit www.hellenia.co.uk
References:
https://www.gelita.com/en/products/collagen-peptides/tendoforte
