Okay, I admit it: I have spent a high percentage of my waking hours adorned in some sporting colours locked in fierce combat with an opposition team. At the time I loved it and my body seemed like a well oiled machine. As I grow older, though, I begin to feel the physical repercussions of my former life, and this I don't love so much! Can anything be done to help me and the millions of other joint pain sufferers out there? Thankfully the winning combination of glucosamine and chondroitin seem to be winning a lot of fans.
Our body, like a machine, has a limited lifespan and requires much care and maintenance in order to maximise its potential and ensure it lasts as long as possible. All wise mechanics and engineers will tell you that the key to a machine's output is best found in preventative measures rather than painstakingly lengthy remedies and cures. For too long I have watched the ageing, as well as fellow sportsmen and women, suffer at the hands of joint pain after years of high physical activity. On most occasions it is not our muscular or skeletal systems that give way to fatigue, but rather it is that which hinges those systems that throws up its hands - our joints!
Throughout my years of sport I always wondered if one day it would all catch up with me and that joint pain and arthritis might plague me. And then in recent years I watched my father and father-in-law, both elite sportspeople in their day, experiencing intense pain in their neck, knees, elbows and shoulders. This was not a good omen for me and I watched their medical journey with intense interest. Both were given two basic choices: invasive procedures such as joint replacements or oral supplements which were said to work for many others. They decided to try the supplements first and the results have been remarkably positive. It turns out that the key to their pain relief is two highly researched ingredients called glucosamine and chondroitin.
Those people who have suffered from joint degeneration or arthritis are all too aware of the debilitating effect of these conditions. Sufferers are often confused as to the cause of their pain. In layman's terms, often the combination of a diminishing level of fluids and a cartilage breakdown has a painful and corrosive effect. This in turn affects the easy sliding movement and without the necessary slipperiness, scraping and grating occurs. As pain increases, movement naturally becomes restricted.
Osteoarthritis and other forms of join disfunction are the curse of many people, not just the elderly. This really came home to me recently whilst watching a former elite sportsman (who represented his nation in Rugby League not so many years ago) engaged in the simple pursuit of putting his socks on, despite having maintained a high level of fitness. He was in such discomfort that he was struggling to complete the task, thanks to terrible joint pain in his back and knees. But the good news for him and thousands like him, is that glucosamine and chondroitin can radically reduce the discomfort of sufferers of joint pain and also retard the onset of arthritis.
Recent studies have confirmed that glucosamine and chondroitin provide pain relief. According to the Council For Responsible Nurtrition, the clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Health in the USA concluded that the combined use of the two dietary supplements provides significant pain relief for arthritis sufferers. According to many, early intervention with these two supplements will significantly slow the onset of arthritis and joint pain. Maybe everyone involved with vigorous sporting activity should consider taking them early in their career.
In the body, glucosamine and chondroitin can be naturally found. Simply put, cartilage formation and repair is the role of glucosamine and the provision of cartilage elasticity is the role of chondroitin. It is the combination of both which seem to enhance the effectiveness of these two and results in pain relief and increased joint movement. Users must realize that it generally takes up to two months of consistent use before the effects kick in.
It would be my strong advice that sufferers of arthritis don't totally rely upon supplements to answer all of their particular questions. There are many physical activities that can also assist in increasing movement and reducing pain in joints. Stretching and warming up the joints should be a common practice as this assists in making joints more flexible. Any exercise generally will help mobility of joints. However, add to this physical activity the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, and your chances of better movement with less pain are significantly increased.
Before exercise you should warm up by stretching your muscles and joints, but ensuring that you do not overstretch. Certainly do not push yourself too early in your warm-up. Aim for long, fluid movements as opposed to vigorous sharp movements. Stretches should be held for around 15 seconds. A well balanced exercise session includes various movements (dependent usually on your age and mobility), isometrics and weight-bearing activities.
There are few things worse than constant, debilitating pain. The simplest of everyday activities like cleaning your teeth, lacing your shoes, lifting up your kids and grandkids and even turning on taps, become an ordeal. Arthritis and joint pain sufferers are finding hope in a combination of two health supplements called glucosamine and chondroitin. As a long time health educator and adviser it thrills me to receive emails from join pain sufferers who have found glorious relief in these simple supplements.
