Connective Tissue Injuries are a Major Challenge in Professional Sports
Soft-tissue injuries—particularly those involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments—remain one of the most significant challenges in professional sports. In fact, research published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine (Ekstrand et al., 2016) shows that these types of injuries account for up to 40% of all injuries in professional soccer.
One of the primary causes of tendon injuries is overuse. Tendon stiffness plays a crucial role in athletic performance—stiffer tendons can improve strength, power, and speed. However, this increase in performance comes at a cost: it also raises the risk of injury. Striking the right balance between tendon strength and flexibility is essential for long-term athlete health and optimal function.
Tendons rely on the elasticity of collagen fibers to absorb force and maintain performance. When these fibers break down—commonly seen in overuse injuries—recovery can be long and complex. These injuries don’t just affect the athlete; they create ripple effects across entire organizations, leading to interrupted training, prolonged downtime, and rising rehabilitation costs.
Supporting athletes with strategies to prevent tendon degeneration and manage load effectively is critical to maintaining peak performance and minimizing injury risk.
TENDOFORTE®, one of GELITA’s specialized Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®), is engineered to improve the health and integrity of tendons and ligaments. Pre-clinical and clinical trials underscore TENDOFORTE®'s effectiveness, enabling beginners to start exercising more safely whereas athletes can speed up recovery time and reduce overuse in connective tissue. TENDOFORTE® is an innovative solution that significantly lowers injury risk and enhances flexibility.
TENDOFORTE® Promotes:
TENDOFORTE® Provides an Innovative Nutritional Intervention
Healthy connective tissues are essential not only for athletic performance but also for facilitating smooth and coordinated motions in various physical activities. The structural integrity of tendons and ligaments heavily depends on a well-maintained extracellular matrix, composed of collagens, proteoglycans, and elastic fibers. TENDOFORTE® expertly stimulates the production of these critical matrix components, ensuring the robustness and health of tendons and ligaments.
TENDOFORTE® Enhances the Biosynthesis of Matrix Molecules in Connective Tissues
In vitro studies have shown that fibroblasts derived from human ligaments and Achilles tendons can produce 1.2 to 2.4 times more tissue matrix when treated with the Bioactive Collagen Peptides found in TENDOFORTE®.
Clinical Research Shows Promising Results
In a clinical study on 50 active men and women with chronic ankle instability (Dressler et al. 2018) TENDOFORTE® could show:
- Improved ankle stability
- Reduced re-incidence of injures during 3 month post supplementation
- Reduced ankle sprains after 6 months
In a clinical study from 2019 (Praet et al 2019) TENDOFORTE® helped male and female runners average age 43 to return to sports quickly after injury.
In two studies on healthy active men aged 18 to 40 years the studies (Jerger et al 2022 & Jerger et al 2023) showed:
- Increase in patellar tendon cross sectional area (CSA) by 11%
- Increase in tendon stiffness and muscle strength
From Injury to Inspiration: Lucie Kienast’s Story With TENDOFORTE®
Elite athletes know that strong tendons are key to peak performance. German heptathlon talent Lucie Kienast shares how TENDOFORTE® supported her recovery and helped her return stronger to the track. Don’t miss her inspiring story – watch the video now.
