Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis.  It usually has a gradual onset and begins after the age of forty.  The knees, hips, fingers and vertebrae are most susceptible.  The joint deterioration is due to faulty or deficient repair of bone and cartilage in the joint.  The standard North American diet is deficient in the minerals necessary for proper joint repair; therefore it is not surprising that osteoarthritis is a common concern. Osteoarthritis causes stiffness and joint pain on motion.

It is typically worse in the morning.  Initially there is no inflammation or swelling of the joint.  As the damage progresses the joint may become inflamed and deformed.  Muscles around the joint can tense up, joint mobility may decrease and there may be a grating feeling on movement. The pain becomes constant and occurs even when at rest.

How Glucosamine Reduced Joint Pain:

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that covers the surfaces of bones in the joints becomes damaged, which allows bone to rub directly against bone.  The synovial fluid eventually becomes thinner, which reduces its ability to cushion impact.  Glucosamine makes healthy synovial fluid thick and gelatinous.  Without it, your ligaments and tendons would fray, and your cartilage would degenerate.

Though glucosamine may take several months to bring relief from pain, some may have results in as little as a month.  In any case, the results are worth the wait.  When studies show that prescription arthritis drugs and anti-inflammatories can actually contribute to the further degeneration of connective tissue (and worse, such as Vioxx), glucosamine and chondroitin offer a safe and effective natural alternative.

An effective joint support nutritional program should include supplements to help maintain cartilage like glucosamine and chondroitin.

Are there other natural alternatives for Joint Pain?

Maintaining the health of your joints is just as important for your quality of life as the maintenance of heart health.  Taking supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM can make a substantial difference & can be used both for prevention and pain relief.

Your cartilage acts as a living shock absorber that cushions and protects your bones from damage during the daily stresses of living, working, and playing.  But, unfortunately due to age or even injury, the human body is sometimes unable to regenerate damaged soft tissue fast enough to keep your cartilage, ligaments, and tendons supple and flexible.

When scientists first began studying glucosamine and chondroitin in the 1970s, they were amazed that no only did the subjects experience less pain, but also - and more importantly- their formerly degenerating cartilage had begun to repair itself.  When they took a closer look at the way glucosamine and chondroitin were actually working to reduce pain and repair cartilage, they found that both of them were         extremely important for normal joint health.

A deficiency in either glucosamine or chondroitin may lead to osteoarthritis, which is a break down of joint structure that manifests  itself as stiffness (especially after periods of rest), creaking and cracking joints, as well as pain.

DID YOU KNOW: DRUG TREATMENTS CAN ACTUALLY WORSEN ARTHRITIS?