There are few things more frustrating than knee pain, but unfortunately it is also one of the most common forms of chronic pain that we experience. This is simply because we need our knees to walk and their position means that they have to bear a lot of weight and often at unusual angles – if we run or play sports this is then increased as we create impacts on our knees that jolt the bones and force them to rub. Thus if anything is going to be a victim of wear and tear then it’s the knees, and then at the same time because of their role in walking this is going to be an area that is very hard to rest and that proves very painful.
That’s not to say that there aren’t things you can do to improve knee pain though, and if you are careful and clever then it’s possible to improve this joint pain in a number of ways – through diet, manipulation, lifestyle and more. One such way to tackle this kind of joint pain through your diet and through supplementation is with the use of glucosamine. Here we will look at what glucosamine is and how it can improve your knee pain.
What Is Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance that is a component found in cartilage. The main function of this glucosamine is to prevent the breakdown of cartilage where it is found between the bones and joints. This then means that it is highly useful in preventing the breakdown of knee cartilage which is the site where this is most likely to occur. It’s not a magical cure, but by making sure you have enough glucosamine you can help the body to maintain the cartilage in the knees and lessen degradation.
Studies on Glucosamine
Of course this promising science would be nothing if it wasn’t backed up by evidence, which fortunately it is. Many studies have been carried out which have aimed to evaluate the usefulness of glucosamine taken as a supplement in reducing knee pain in those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. It was found that by taking this supplement it was possible to help improve the health and moisture of the cartilage. When taken in liquid form in particular it was found to be able to combat pain also and even in some cases to help the body to repair damage that was already done to the knee joints.
In one study – ‘The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial’ it was noted that there was a ‘statistically significant improvement in knee joint swelling’. It was also suggested in the same study that glucosamine sulfate taken once a day would be more effective than other knee osteoarthritis supplements and medications such as the highly popular acetaminophen.
How to Use Glucosamine
Glucosamine is used best taken once a day in liquid form where possible. It also works best when taken alongside chondroitin. Other supplementation that may also help are calcium and magnesium (magnesium is used in order to transport calcium).