We often find ourselves at an event where we offer samples of our therapy and immediately next to us are our friends from Vital Proteins who are sampling their line of collagen peptide protein powders. Since the foundation of our therapy is restoring muscle pliability by breaking up the buildup of collagen and fibrosis inside the muscles and fascia, it’s only natural that people would ask how collagen supplements affect muscle tightness.
What is collagen?
To address the answer, let’s first talk about what collagen is, where it is located and what it does. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body that is made up of amino-acids and provides structure to hair, skin, nails, tendons, ligaments, bones, muscles and fascia. It’s ubiquitous throughout the body and allows us to move with fluidity and control. There are 40 different types of collagen that are separated into major and minor categories, all having distinct mechanical and functional properties. Approximately 80-90 percent of collagen are type I, II and III and type I is a fibrous type that provides structure and allows the transfer of force through a muscle.
As we age, collagen deteriorates through normal wear and tear and can lead to many dysfunctions, from muscle and joint stiffness, to a loss of elasticity in the skin, and even a decrease in bone density. The remodeling of this collagen is critical for youthful, healthy function. In fact, collagen has a turnover rate in the body of 100% every 7 months, which means that anything contributing to this remodeling process is a good thing.
What do collagen supplements do?
Since collagen is found throughout our bodies, collagen supplements can be an effective way to replenish old, damaged collagen. These newly popular supplements are not technically collagen, as collagen is created inside the body. Instead, they are typically reduced to smaller collagen building blocks that can be more readily absorbed into the bloodstream.
Within the bloodstream, these building blocks are transported into the targeted areas of need where they act as precursors for local cells and help boost the production of new collagen fibers, such as the hair, nails, joints, skin, bones, muscles, and many others.
Collagen build-up in the muscles
The collagen deposits within muscles and fascia that cause fibrosis and manifest as pain and stiffness. This build-up is are a result of many years of wear and tear (movement and/or stagnation) of the body. This is a separate process in the body that occurs over time and largely affects the muscles and fascia, whereas ingesting the supplement helps with overall collagen rebuilding in many areas of the body and gets allocated to areas that need the most support.
At Delos Therapy, by applying multi-directional pressure into tight, bound up muscles, we are stimulating and initiating the remodeling process of collagen in the area. Therefore, collagen peptides or supplements might actually enhance this repair and remodeling process that is initiated with Delos Therapy, leading to healthier muscles and better performance. The combination of therapy and the supplement might be the ideal input for optimal results.
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- The Collagen Craze: How Collagen Peptides Differ From The Collagen Causing Your Muscle Pain - June 28, 2019
- Anatomy Trains, Collagen and the Delos Perspective - September 20, 2018