Our articles usually are not designed to switch medical recommendation. You probably have an harm we advocate seeing a professional well being skilled. To e book an appointment with Tom Goom (AKA ‘The Working Physio’) go to our clinic web page. We provide each in-person assessments and on-line consultations.
Individuals with tendon ache are sometimes eager to seek out any potential options and so I usually get requested – might eating regimen or dietary supplements assist? Let’s attempt to reply this with a few of the newest analysis and discover suggestions we are able to make to our sufferers.
Weight-reduction plan definitely has the potential to be an necessary issue. Diabetes, weight problems, raised ldl cholesterol and hypertension are all related to tendinopathy and tendon well being. Additionally they all have the potential to reply to modifications in eating regimen.
Alcohol could play a task too. It’s thought to affect collagen synthesis and could also be a danger issue for tendinopathy (though analysis is inconsistent – Hijlkema et al. 2022). It additionally impacts common well being, psychological wellbeing and weight.
Collagen is essential! 60 to 80% of the dry mass of tendon is collagen (Tresoldi et al. 2013) and its synthesis is assumed to play a key position in tendon adaptation in response to train. Weight-reduction plan and dietary supplements could affect this. Taking Vitamin C enriched gelatin (a supply of collagen) 1 hour previous to train has been discovered to extend collagen synthesis (Shaw et al. 2017). This strategy sowed promising ends in a case examine of a affected person with patellar tendinopathy (Baar 2019)
Clearly the potential is there however what does the analysis say?…
A current systematic assessment from Hijlkema et al. (2022) reported:
“The usage of dietary dietary supplements was examined in fourteen research. Amongst these, collagen-derived peptides have been most frequently a part of the dietary supplements evaluated.
Combining coaching and dietary dietary supplements appears to induce higher scientific and practical outcomes in tendinopathy.”
Nonetheless, they went on to focus on the shortage of top of the range research:
“This assessment demonstrates the paucity of high-quality research and all kinds amongst research concerning vitamins, tendon location, examine inhabitants, and reported end result measures.”
“Particular person research confirmed promising scientific implications for the usage of dietary dietary supplements, significantly these containing collagen-derived peptides. Nonetheless, giving any definitive dietary suggestions on the prevention and therapy of tendinopathy stays elusive.”
They concluded:
“All in all, collagen appears to be helpful within the therapy of tendinopathy, however conclusions about optimum dosage, timing, length, and sort of collagen supplementation can’t be drawn but.”
“Bettering the ordinary consumption needs to be the primary focus of athletes slightly than the consumption of dietary dietary supplements”
So the place does this depart us and what suggestions can we presently make? We spoke to Nutritionist Fran Taylor for her knowledgeable enter and summarised the important thing factors within the graphic under. Be happy to reserve it to share it along with your sufferers.
For extra on treating tendinopathy and operating accidents take a look at the Working Repairs Course and observe us on Instagram and Fb.
