Mobility refers to your joint's range of motion. Our level of mobility can have a huge impact on our day - to - day life, especially if limited joint mobility, stiffness and pain are preventing us from doing activities we enjoy.
A lot of us regard decreased mobility as an inevitable part of getting older, yet there's actually lots we can do to maintain and improve the mobility of our joints. Though a big part of this should be doing exercises that support mobility, and seeking help after an injury to support a full recovery, diet and supplements can also play a significant role.
How can collagen support joint mobility?
Joint cartilage plays a key role in joint mobility. The cartilage in our joints acts like a shock absorber, providing cushioning and allowing b ones to slide over each other smoothly without friction. This helps us to have a full range of motion. So when joint cartilage starts to degrade and wear down in conditions such as osteoarthritis, we can start to lose mobility.
As I discussed in Part 1 of this article series, collagen makes up 70 - 95% of our joint cartilage , so maintaining our collagen is crucial for joint health. Though our body makes collagen naturally, this process decreases as we age.
However, it's thought that hydrolysed collagen supplements may help the body to build joint cartilage, which may therefore support joint health and thus mobility. This is not because collagen is directly absorbed in its whole form by the body, but the individual amino acids in the hydrolysed collagen are t he ones that our body needs to make collagen.
A 2021 clinical trial which looked at hydrolysed collagen for joint pain and mobility in those with osteoarthritis found a significant improvement in joint function after 90 days of collagen supplementation, and therefore concluded that collagen supplementation is beneficial for supporting joint mobility
Diet and Supplements Play a Supporting Role
Research suggests that collagen peptide supplements may be beneficial in supporting joint mobility, especially in the case of osteoarthritis. However, it's important to remember that there are lots of factors that can affect joint mobility.
If you develop joint problems it's important to seek help from a medical professional such as a doctor or physiotherapist. But diet, lifestyle and supplements can also play a key supporting role in helping to keep our joints healthy and mobile.
Do you use a collagen supplement to support your joint health? Tell us ab out your experience in the comments.