Golf is a sport that places a lot of physical demand on the body, and players are at risk of several common injuries. Three of the most common golf injuries are lower back pain, golfer's elbow, and knee pain. These injuries can have a significant impact on a player's performance and can cause them to miss significant amounts of playing time.
Lower back pain is a common issue among golfers and can be caused by poor posture or incorrect swing mechanics. Lower back pain can cause stiffness and limited mobility, which can significantly impact a player's ability to make a full swing. This can result in decreased distance, accuracy, and consistency. If left untreated, lower back pain can worsen and become a chronic condition, causing long-term damage to the back muscles and spine.
Golfer's elbow is another common injury that can have a significant impact on a player's performance. This condition is caused by the inflammation of the tendons that attach to the inner elbow. It can cause pain and weakness in the wrist and forearm, which can limit a player's ability to grip and control the club. This can result in decreased power and accuracy, and can lead to missed shots and higher scores.
Knee pain is also a common problem among golfers, particularly in the lead knee, which absorbs a lot of pressure during the swing. Knee pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including overuse, injury, or arthritis. Knee pain can limit a golfer's ability to generate power in their swing and walk the course comfortably.
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. Doing so enhances daily recovery from exercise as well as providing extra and much needed support when recovering from an injury.
Collagen supplements are proving more and more to be highly effective in both prehab and rehab programs as well as part of a healthy and balanced diet and active lifestyle.
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 stresses of playing round after round of golf to the best of your ability.
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 (muscles, ligaments, tendons etc.).
Due to the explosive and repetitive nature of the game of golf, 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, forcing you to watch on from afar.
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 surrounding muscle groups. This means that an overstretched and over-exerted muscle during a golf swing can cause significant damage to other soft tissue which could likely end in a tear or rupture.
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.
High performing tendons and ligaments combine strength and flexibility. U Perform TENDOFORTE® collagen fibres give them the right elasticity for optimal function and performance.
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.
Dietary protein is an essential for any foundational nutritional plan as it contributes to the maintenance and development of lean muscle mass; the muscle that gives us our strength and power. Through training we create damage (in a good way of course) to stimulate adaptation and repair. 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.
Crucial to the quality of that repair is COLLAGEN…
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. Recent studies show that BODYBALANCE® may contribute to upwards of 61% more growth in muscle size than whey protein alone.
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).
70% of articular cartilage is made up of collagen protein and Type II in particular. The physical demands of golf practice and games 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 physical activity of any kind. Therefore, maintaining the integrity and mobility of your joints and articular surfaces such as hyaline cartilage is crucial for anyone looking to improve their golf performance, reduce the risk of injury and stay in the game for longer.
Activity related joint pain (knee pain in particular), is one of the most common injuries experienced by golfers of all ability levels. Having the nutritional support to optimise our joint health is a crucial component of keeping us 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.
We have included FORTIGEL® in our Active Sport Collagen formulation to give you a convenient and cost-effective daily serving of this incredible and independently proven collagen peptide to help you optimise your joint health. 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.
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®).
