Sport and Collagen Vital: A Testimonial from the Stade Français Team Doctor

As we mentioned in a previous article, Collagen Vital is highly effective for treating muscle injuries. Its action also extends to tendinitis and damaged muscle fibrils — injuries that elite athletes frequently suffer from. In this article, Dr Elliot Rubbio, chief medical officer and head of the medical department at Stade Français, and Dr Marc Rozenblat, share their views on our collagen and its beneficial effects on the pain experienced by professional rugby players.

Anatomy refresher: what are tendons, and how can collagen help heal them?

Marc Rozenblat explained that tendons allow muscles to attach to skeletal structures. They are made up of fibrous bundles of varying density — flexible yet highly resistant. They have viscoelastic properties and are capable of storing energy and then releasing it.

The effect of collagen on tendons and tendinopathy

• Tendons

With that in mind, one might wonder what the connection is between tendons and collagen. Dr Rozenblat continues: The fibrous bundles of our tendons contain type I collagen and elastin. Between these two components, tenocytes are embedded (tenocytes being arterial and venous vessels). When a tendon is damaged, it is the collagen fibres that are affected. These fibres are bathed in a fundamental substance called gel, which allows them to slide past one another. When an injury occurs, these fibres need to heal. To improve this healing process, athletes can take a collagen supplement orally, over a 2 to 3 month course. This course actively supports the repair of damaged fibres.

• Tendinopathy

A tendinopathy can be compared to a jammed rope. A deposit forms between the collagen fibres — the threads — of the tendon — the rope. The tendon becomes stiffer, retracts, and loses its flexibility. The goal is then to unjam the rope, restore a satisfactory collagen orientation, and reestablish normal intratendinous pressure.

What causes tendinopathy in sport?

Many causes can lead to tendinopathies in athletes. These include inadequate warm-up, equipment or surface problems, structural abnormalities, or infectious, allergic-histamine, fungal, or medication-related causes.

To address these various causes and treat the symptoms (pain on contraction, on stretching, and on palpation of the tendon), athletes can take iron, vitamin D, and drinkable collagen. Vita Recherche's collagen is highly bioavailable. It actively supports tendon preservation, making it ideal for helping athletes protect themselves from tendinopathies.

Testimonial from Dr Elliot Rubbio, Chief Medical Officer at Stade Français

"Ever since I began working with elite athletes, nutritional support and dietary supplements have always seemed essential to me, particularly during rehabilitation phases. The contribution of Collagen Vital collagen to the recovery of tendon-muscle injuries, and especially tendinopathies, is unquestionable — particularly regarding pain levels, with evaluation scores improving after 3 months of treatment compared to pre-treatment assessments. More generally, beyond injury contexts, Collagen Vital reduces muscle damage and improves recovery while reducing post-exercise soreness."

This testimonial illustrates how much athletes need "support" during intensive training. Collagen helps to prevent injuries and accelerate recovery when they do occur.

Results of the study conducted with Stade Français and Collagen Vital Power

Vita Recherche conducted a study in partnership with the professional rugby players of Stade Français to assess the effects and benefits of their collagen on joints.

This study brought several important findings to light. Based on the results of the standardised Quick DASH, experts observed an overall improvement of 52% in the functional domain.

Regarding perceived joint pain, the rugby players completed a questionnaire. Their responses showed a reduction of 40% in pain intensity during a course of Collagen Vital Power.

How is this explained?

Collagen Vital Power helps address collagen deficiencies. Thanks to its bioavailability and the signal action of its hydrolysed peptides, its effects can be observed over the long term. This also explains why the course duration matters.

This study ran over a period of 3 months. The athletes took 10 g of collagen every day. It was Dr Rubio, the Stade Français team doctor, who supervised the participants throughout.