Are your joints stiff? It might not be due to the cold weather!

Joint Health, Naturally!

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that mainly affects the body's weight-bearing joints. Before the age of 60, nearly half of the population shows some form of joint degeneration. Small pieces of bone and cartilage can break off and get stuck in the joint or cause bone spurs that irritate the joint. As we age, the ability to produce and restore cartilage decreases. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include stiffness, pain at the start of movement, and varying degrees of pain, from mild to severe.

The idea that nothing can slow down osteoarthritis is a misconception, as is the idea that it is a progressive disease where only pain can be managed with anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil and Motrin. While these medications suppress painful symptoms, recent research suggests that they may actually accelerate the progression of degenerative joint disease. Studies have shown that these drugs contribute to cartilage destruction and prevent the growth of new cartilage. Prolonged use of these anti-inflammatory drugs can cause gastrointestinal bleeding or damage to the liver and kidneys. (Brooks et al.)

Unlike these anti-inflammatory drugs, Glucosamine and Chondroitin addresses more than just pain. It goes straight to the root of the problem by stimulating the production of connective tissues and repairing damaged joints. This naturally sourced product helps form cushioning ingredients in joint fluids and surrounding tissues, thereby relieving friction and pain. A Portuguese study of 40 patients suffering from osteoarthritis in one knee was divided into two groups: one group received 1.2 grams of ibuprofen per day for eight weeks, and the other group received 1.5 grams of Glucosamine. Individuals who received ibuprofen experienced a rapid decrease in pain during the first two weeks but increased pain after eight weeks. The GLS group did not experience dramatic pain relief during the first two weeks. But, by the end of eight weeks, the group experienced much less pain than the group using ibuprofen. (Vaz, et al.)

Is it safe? A number of double-blind studies dating back to the early 1980s show that oral glucosamine and chondroitin reduce pain and improve mobility in osteoarthritis.

(McCarty) We are all too familiar with the many side effects of long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs; which makes the use of glucosamine and chondroitin even more attractive.

References:
Brooks, E.M., et al., “NSAIDs and osteoarthritis – help or hindrance?” Rheumatol, 9: 3-5; 1982
McCarty M.E., “The neglect of glucosamine as a treatment for osteoarthritis – a personal perspective,” Med Hypotheses; May, 1994
Vaz A.L., et al., “Double-blind clinical evaluation of the relative efficacy of ibuprofen and glucosamine sulfate in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee in out-patients,” Cun: Med Res Opin, 8: 145-149; 1982