The Science Behind Collagen Loss and Joint Aging, Plus Solutions to Slow it Down

Why is an orthopedic doctor surgeon writing about collagen? Isn’t collagen’s function just to keep your skin looking good? How does it help your joints?

Here at Carolina Joint and Arthritis, we love it when patients ask us questions like this. They show us you’re engaged in improving your health, plus they give us an opportunity to help you feel better in ways you haven’t considered before.

To answer your question: Yes, collagen does help your skin look smoother, younger, and firmer. But it also plays a vital role in the health of your joints. As you age, the loss of collagen means your joints become stiff, you lose cartilage, and your movements become less fluid.

Here’s more about the science behind collagen loss and joint aging — and what you can do about it.

What happens to collagen as you age?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body; it’s a vital part of various connective tissues. Two specific kinds of collagen are important in joints: type 1, found in tendons, ligaments, and bone-related tissues, and type 2, found in cartilage. 

Three major things happen as you age that affect the collagen in your body. First, your capacity to produce new collagen decreases after your mid-20s and 30s as the cells that produce it become less efficient, and their function is impaired. 

Second, the collagen fibers you do have start to degrade. They become more fragmented, less organized, and more prone to damage, which causes your tissues to stiffen. Third, your collagen begins to function less well — it becomes more elastic, more brittle, and less able to be repaired. 

How does this affect your joints?

These changes show up in your joints, causing your cartilage to thin and provide less cushioning, while your ligaments and tendons become stiffer and more vulnerable to degradation. Your joint tissues have less capacity to absorb force and adapt to stress.

This all makes your joints more vulnerable to wear and tear and contributes to the development of osteoarthritis and a reduction in your joint mobility.

What can you do to slow it down?

You can take several steps to slow this process down. Maintain a diet rich in nutrients that contribute to collagen production, including adequate protein and vitamin C. Keep your weight under control to avoid excess force and chronic inflammation, and minimize the things that contribute to collagen decline, such as smoking, high sugar intake, poor sleep, and a sedentary lifestyle.

If your joints are in bad shape, you can also consider regenerative therapies that stimulate the production of collagen and build repair pathways. At our clinic, these procedures include orthobiologics, cell therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (ABMAC), and our Nanoplasty® and Mechanical Axis Deviation Procedure (NAMAD).

If you want to explore these solutions further, our team at Carolina Joint and Arthritis is here to help. To schedule an appointment, call our Wilmington, North Carolina, office or use our convenient online scheduler to book your own time.