How Proteolytic Enzymes Work For Sports Injuries

In this video, Dr. Barker explains what proteolytic enzymes are, and why they're great for healing sports injuries.

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What are enzymes?

Essentially, they’re a specific class of proteins that act as catalysts by speeding up or helping with many biochemical reactions in the body.

Sports injuries are often treated with proteolytic enzymes because of their ability to reduce inflammation and speed the healing of bruises, swelling, and other injuries. 

They accelerate the healing process and reduce inflammation.

The body does this on its own, but when an injury occurs, it’s difficult for the body to keep pace with the demands. Hence, we can supplement with proteolytic enzymes.

In fact, proteolytic enzymes used to be dispensed as prescription drugs for reducing inflammation and speeding up tissue healing, up until corticosteroids and NSAIDs came in to use - they were cheaper to produce and enzymes fell out of favor.

Enzymes differ from drugs in one big way - they speed healing whereas drugs like NSAIDs and corticosteroids do nothing to improve healing times.

Enzymes have been shown to improve healing times by about 1/3rd!

We use enzymes in sports engines because they:
-Support our own production of enzymes
-Activate other enzymes
-Inactivate substances that cause inflammation (bradykinins)
-Decrease pro-inflammatory prostaglandins
-Increase anti-inflammatory prostaglandins
-Destroy proteins leaked from damaged cells (cleanup)
-Breakdown excess fibrin (the stuff clots are made from) to improve blood flow and healing

Examples of enzymes include:
Papain
Rutin
Bromelain
Pancreatin
Trypsin
Chymotrypsin

In the clinic, we use a lot of Pure Encapsulations Systemic Enzyme Complex and Wobenzym to help speed up the healing of sports injuries.

Enzymes are best used for acute injuries - take them as soon as you can after an injury!

If used before an injurious event (like boxing, mixed martial arts, or running a hilly marathon), they can reduce swelling and speed healing by about 50%! This means you’ll heal twice as fast taking enzymes!

Use them for about 7-10 days.

The only drawback is that you have to take them 4 times daily for best results.

Be sure to take them on empty stomach - enzymes can be used for digesting food, which is a good idea in athletes as well!

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Jason Barker received his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2001. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. He is registered in Colorado where he maintains an active practice.
This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Jason Barker and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from your personal physician. This video does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Barker and you. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Barker nor The Natural Athlete’s Clinic takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians and obtain a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
Thanks for watching!

[SandandGravelTruth]

Bought it for covid last summer but now taking it to fight fibrocystic breast disease. I'm also an athlete so this is good to know!!!

[kevinmaxwell]

I used it for sciatica as well and it cured my pain. I had to take a lot on an empty stomach. I took it for about a week but it worked!

[PeaceNinja]

I can testify ... i've been having sciatic nerve pain for a couple months from bulging disc. Just couldn't figure out why the pain was not going away on its own as I thought it would. After hearing about systemic enzymes and their ability to reduce inflammation and remove unwanted proteins, I decided to give it a try. You do have to take a lot of them but it was worth it. I barely feel my sciatic nerve pain anymore. I can now move freely like I used to :)

[sorinswonderland]

I've had tendon and muscle pain for 12 years. I've tried just about everything. I guess I could give this a shot for at least a month.

[MultiCanEman]

Thanks for this very informative video. I started taking Nattokinase for blood circulation as i feel i do not have good oxygen intake..i feel mostly during cardio work outs. Would Nattokinase serve the purpose for blood circulation? Taking 2000 FUs.

[lyzztaylor]

Can my 12 year old gymnast daughter take this? We just found out she sprained her elbow.

[JonathanModoh]

can you take this with BPC-157 and TB-500?

[ChrisEzio]

Did anyone got help from these for a herniated disc? And I mean that he tried amother things that domt work first. Noy just did the enzymes and then time passed and got better

[Smartx]

What about a 120, 000 SPU dose per tablet, how many times a day would you recommend to take that? Thank you 🙏

[jonasirw]

Dosing on wobenzym seems to be all over the map.. I have a torn labrum and a rotator cuff injury.. I also continue to lift weights 3-4X a week. I’m 185lbs and 6ft tall.. How many Wobenzym Ns should I take everyday? I’ve heard of people taking 40-50 daily of these things. So far I’ve been taking 12 per day in 4 pill increments on an empty stomach for a week and haven’t noticed a material change in my recovery. Appreciate the input! Thx!

[WillWinterz]

About to try some for my bulging disc injury

[miketsak]

Thanks so much for the info. Very healpfull. !!!

[myscreenurs]

When you say they have to be taken on an empty stomach, is it fine to take at the start of a meal or should i isolate it from food entirely by some hours?

[ivorcollins]

Very Helpful video Doctor Barker. I've been taking Serrapeptase 40, 000 SPU once daily for the last 4 weeks (30 mins before I eat breakfast). I have noticed great results in obtaining relief from knee and neck pain. Question: Is Serrapetase a supplement that can be taken daily forever, if you are an active person (I Surf, swim, run every day) ? Or, should I limit my intake? What would you recommend? Thanks

[littlebeebs]

Will the enzymes upset a persons stomach? I have an ulcer that I have been battling along with a very bad building disk. Those two ailments take turns ruining my life. I am prepared to buy some enzymes. I am so desperate. Please tell me if they will irritate my empty stomach.thank you so much!😊

[KidLudens]

Thank you for the video. I wasn't aware that they're best taken on an empty stomach. What, in your opinion, would be a good time to wait before eating after taking them? Also, if taking them throughout the day is most optimal, how long before your next meal would you want to consume them (I guess both those questions are pretty much the same lol) thank you for any info :)

[cliveworth]

Thank you for this video and I will go about now to get some Enzymes.

[kboy]

wouldn’t this negatively impact the good inflammation we get after exercising too?

[tennesseewiggins]

I have a muscle injury it left lots of scar tissue after a few months and it’s clogging my lymphatic node in one spot, how much should I take a day?

[perezchiro]

Will taking proteolytic enzymes be beneficial after ACL reconstruction? Will it affect the graft?