Male goalkeeper kicking football towards other male players - U Perform Football
Male goalkeeper kicking football towards other male players - U Perform Football

FOOTBALL

Football is a game won and lost by the finest margins...

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Unlike most endurance sports, football consists of multiple bouts of intermittent high-intensity activity where players will alternate between periods of being stationery, walking, running, sprinting as well as changing direction and decelerating rapidly. 

The physical demands of football cannot be understated, and soft tissue injuries unfortunately are a common occurrence. Collagen plays a critical role in the health and function of soft and connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, muscles, and cartilage and has been shown to positively support long term injury prevention and recovery. 

FOOTBALL NUTRITION

Soft-tissue injuries (those affecting muscles, tendons, and ligaments) are extremely common across all levels of sport with the incidence of soft-tissue injuries reaching 60% within the English Premier League and nearly 70% in the National Football League. Similarly, high rates of tendon injuries (tendinopathy) are also observed (30-55%) in the general population of both elite and non-elite athletes. 

Given the high prevalence of such injuries, nutritional strategies that minimise the loss of training time due to injury are likely to determine performance success or failure and should be a key priority for all athletes and clubs.

The goal of any nutritional and training strategy should be to enhance the robustness of tissues such as: ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bone, making them more resistant to the stress placed on them during training and competition.

Collagen supplements are proving more and more to be highly effective in both prehab and rehab programs as well as part of a normal nutritional program.

Collagen is the primary structural protein that forms the structure of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bone and therefore plays a critical role in the performance and recovery of these tissues. Adding more collagen to these tissues will ultimately make for a stronger and more injury resistant structure that will better withstand the stress of high intensity activity on and off the football pitch. 

Not only that, with specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides® (like the ones we use here at U Perform), we can not only add more collagen into the mix by ingesting tasty supplements, but in doing so we can also kickstart the body’s own natural production of collagen again! With clinical studies showing up to a 65% improvement in just 56 days.

Despite losses due to age, physical activity, or injury, we can see an overall significant net gain in available collagen to support the recovery and adaptation of key structural tissues in the human body.

Maximising the time spent training, while also minimising the time lost to injury, is the number one goal here at U Perform. TENDOFORTE® Bioactive Collagen Peptides® featured in our signature Active Collagen gels are being widely use for the prevention and treatment of injury are proving more and more to be highly effective, as collagen supports the health, function, and recovery of soft tissue in both prehab and rehab programmes.

Due to the explosive and multi-directional nature of football training and matches, connective tissues like ligaments and tendons, can come under a significant amount of stress and strain which can cause damage, inflammation and in worst cases, lead to injury, placing you back on the bench and no longer able to train and play to the same level if at all.

Where it was once thought that tendon injuries were caused primarily by inflammation, evidence is now pointing towards that fact that tendon injuries are likely more characterised by collagen fibre degeneration and the ineffectual activity of calf muscles such as the soleus and gastrocnemius.

Because of a relatively limited blood supply tendons injuries are slow to recover and disrupt training with several personal, competitive, and financial consequences to the high-performance athlete or the exercise enthusiast. 

Ongoing research evidence and clinical studies are continually demonstrating the efficacy and value of adding TENDOFORTE® Bioactive Collagen Peptides® to a daily nutritional program. 

For example, one study by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) examined the benefits of TENDOFORTE® over a period of 6 months. The participants were 20 runners with long-term symptoms of chronic Achilles tendinopathy, not responding to any traditional therapies, and being unable to train. 

Within 3 months, 12 out of 20 participants were able to return to running after starting a therapy with a daily intake of 5g of TENDOFORTE®. What’s more, the benefits continued, and more runners returned to training in the following 3 months.

U Perform TENDOFORTE clinical studies bar chart Achilles Tendinopathy

High performing tendons and ligaments combine strength and flexibility. U Perform TENDOFORTE® collagen fibres give them the right elasticity for optimal function and performance.

Active Collagen is a game-changer in sports collagen supplementation and players and clubs worldwide are choosing it to optimise their training and match day recovery. Try Active Collagen today - SEE and FEEL the difference for yourself!

As the primary structural protein in the human body (over a third of total body protein), collagen plays a vital role in the maintenance and development of almost all the physical structures of the body, including muscles. 

The latest innovation in collagen technology, BODYBALANCE® is a brand-new muscle specific Performance Peptide®. BODYBALANCE® has a multi-factorial effect on body composition and the maintenance and development of muscle mass.

Up to 10% of muscle is formed of collagen fibres and BODYBALANCE® collagen fibres give the muscle tissue the strength and rigidity needed to carry out its function whilst also maintaining the flexibility needed to do so without risk of injury whilst under load.

In any football training session, match, or when we are in the gym performing strength and conditioning exercises, we create an enormous amount of muscle damage and inflammation - in a good way of course - to stimulate adaptation and repair.

This muscle damage, in the form of ‘micro-tears’ is inevitable and is an essential part of the training process and how we respond to that is ultimately indicative of the progress and adaptations we will produce as a result of that bout of exercise or training.

Outside of adequate programming, rest time, quality hydration and sleep, your nutrition is crucial as it is from food and supplements that the body receives the nutrients it needs to fulfil that repair and adaptation process.

Supplementing with a high-quality recovery protein source such as U Perform’s Active Whey & Collagen post-workout, meets this need conveniently and cost-effectively. Alongside whey protein, collagen supplementation not only provides a high-quality source of Essential Amino Acids, but targeted Bioactive Collagen Peptides® have been proven to improve the recovery of muscle tissue, to increase their strength and make them more resistant to injury

Furthermore, several randomised, placebo controlled. double blinded studies have demonstrated the efficacy and potential of the daily intake of 15g of BODYBALANCE® in combination with resistance training showing increases in muscle size, strength, decrease in waist circumference and, improved muscle recovery times.

Studies have been carried out in both men and women of varying age ranges and levels of activity; with all showing statistically significant results in as little as 12 weeks (15g daily serving BODYBALANCE® in combination with physical exercise). 

Active Whey & Collagen is Your Proven Advantage when it comes to optimising muscle strength and recovery. Available in two great tasting, natural flavours - you are going to want to try this today!

70% of articular cartilage is made up of collagen protein and Type II in particular. The high intensity demands of football training and matches will inevitably put immense pressure on our joints and bones which can often lead to pain, impaired movement, and even chronic injuries.

Cartilage within our joints effectively act like a shock absorber, taking on the impact and stress from running, jumping, tackling, and changing direction during a training session or game. Therefore, maintaining the integrity and mobility of your joints and articular surfaces such as hyaline cartilage is crucial for anyone looking to improve their football performance, reduce the risk of injury and stay in the game for longer. 

With a unique formulation of Type II optimised Bioactive Collagen Peptides®, FORTIGEL® is an innovative ingredient clinically proven to activate the growth of new cartilage and protect the integrity of existing cartilage by stimulating specific collagen producing cells in the cartilage tissue itself, helping to ease joint discomfort, and keep joints moving smoother for longer.

The effectiveness of FORTIGEL® has been scientifically proven in numerous studies and according to published research, the ingestion of FORTIGEL® collagen peptides stimulate a significant increase of cartilage tissue metabolism, against placebo.

One study, carried out by Harvard University, investigated the long-term effect of FORTIGEL® treatment on the composition of hyaline cartilage in individuals with early knee osteoarthritis, a common condition that can affect the ability for us to stay in the game as we get older. The analysis of the final cartilage scans revealed a statistically significant increase in proteoglycan density in the medial and lateral tibial regions of the FORTIGEL® treated subjects compared to the placebo group.

U Perform FORTIGEL Bioactive Collagen Peptides Clinical Results Bar Chart

Studies have been carried out in various groups and looking at different joint disorders including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis all showing statistically significant results in as little as 12 weeks (minimum 5g daily serving FORTIGEL®).

In just 5 daily tablets, Active Sport Collagen is a convenient and cost-effective way to increase your daily collagen intake to optimise your joint health, keeping joints mobile and moving smoother for longer.

The Bottomline

Game defining moments happen in an instant on the pitch, but they are created through years of grit and determination on the training ground. Ensure every second of your preparation counts by maximising the training adaptations and recovery with U Perform's range of clinically proven sports collagen supplements. 

We only formulate supplements that help you prepare and perform at your best, for when it matters most. Whether that's to enhance your match day performance or speed up your post-game recovery; because improving your performance is at the heart of what we do. 

If you're looking to push your limits and find for your advantage over the competition, look no further... let U Perform be Your Proven Advantage. Try Active Collagen, Active Whey & Collagen and Active Sport Collagen today - SEE and FEEL the difference for yourself!