Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Elite athletes turn to collagen for recovery and pain management
Collagen is a protein naturally found in the body.
It has long been promoted in skincare products.
Now, some elite athletes are using collagen supplements for sports-related reasons.
They are particularly interested in it when recovering from injuries.
Athletes in physically demanding sports may also use it.
Wayne Lombard says scientists are still studying how useful collagen is for athletes.
He estimates it may improve some things by 1–3%.
Collagen may help parts of joints that do not receive much blood through vessels.
These parts include ligaments, the meniscus and the labrum.
Collagen is increasingly being used by high-performance athletes, especially those recovering from injuries.
Athletes in sports that place greater loads on the body are among the main users.
Wayne Lombard said research into collagen use by athletes is still developing.
Lombard said collagen supplements may provide a 1–3% improvement in certain areas.
The supplement may support joint regeneration in ligaments, meniscus and labrum, which have relatively limited blood supply.
- Who
- High-performance athletes, including members of the Indian women’s hockey team, are using collagen; Wayne Lombard discussed its use.
- What
- Athletes are using collagen supplements to support recovery, pain management and joint regeneration.
- When
- The article does not specify a date or timeframe.
- Where
- The article discusses use in high-performance sport and mentions the Indian women’s hockey team, but does not identify a specific location.
- Why
- Athletes use collagen particularly when recovering from injury or competing in sports that place higher loads on the body.
- Supplement
- Collagen, a protein found in the body
- Main users
- High-performance athletes
- Common situations
- Injury recovery and sports involving higher physical loads
- Potential benefit
- A reported 1–3% improvement in certain areas
- Potential mechanism
- Support for joint regeneration in areas with relatively little blood supply
- Examples of affected structures
- Ligaments, meniscus and labrum
- Research status
- The science on athletic use of collagen is still developing