Collagen

Intervention of musculoskeletal condition often refers to treatment of soft-tissue (muscle), bone, and connective tissue. Technically, connective tissue is a part of soft-tissue, but it often is treated separated due to isolated injuries are common.

Collagen is a common, perhaps the most abundant protein group in human body. Collagen has great tensile strength, thus adds structural and functional strength to various human body components. Among various types of collagen, type I - main component of bone and type II - cartilage are the two most common types.

Type I Collagen is the most abundant collagen type of the human body. In addition to bone, tendons, myofibrils, fibrocartilage, and nucleus pulposus of spine are composed of type I collagen. Lack of this type of collagen most likely leads to bone disease, such as osteogenesis imperfecta.

Type II Collagen is also abundant collagen protein type often makes up hyaline cartilage and annulus fibrosus of spine. Various collagenopathy may result with deficiency of this type of collagen.