You may have been hearing the word ‘supplements’ for years now. Probably, decades. You may have across it as a kid when mom’s always giving you some pills to take after your meal. On the other hand, you might have come across a friend or a healthcare provider as a grown man or lady who may have recommended a few.
Few extremes could be that as an aging adult, you are asked to consider it as part of your diet for your health. Whatever way, you might have come across supplements, what exactly are they?
What causes joint pain in the knees?
Arthritis
The different types of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is a condition where the knee cartilage wears off with use and age. the bone density and bone mass also decrease. It is the most common type of arthritis affecting almost one-quarter of people living in the United States. It is also referred to as a wear-and-tear disease. It mostly affects joints that bear weight and that are predominantly the knees.
When bones meet, they form a joint. The cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that cushions each end of the bones and makes them move over themselves without friction. However, when this cartilage begins to deteriorate, the bones begin to scrap over each other. The connective tissues that stabilize the joint and attach muscles to bones become affected as well. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, stiffness, tenderness, grating sensation, swelling, bone spurs, and loss of flexibility.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This is an autoimmune condition. It is the most destructive form of arthritis and can affect any joint in your body. It is chronic, varies in severity and frequency in people with the condition.
Gout
This type of arthritis happens when there is a build-up of uric acid in your joints. It mostly affects the fingers and toes but can also affect your knees.
Pseudogout
This affects the knee joint more than any other joint. However, instead of uric acid crystals, it is caused by calcium crystals that develop in the synovial fluid in the joint.
Septic arthritis
This occurs when arthritis is due to infection. When your knee joint is infected, you may experience a fever, joint pain, swelling, tenderness, and redness. Usually, it is not a result of trauma or injury. If not properly managed or treated, septic arthritis could worsen and cause gross damage to your knee cartilage.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome
This pain is commonly seen in athletes. It is caused by tightness, malalignment of your legs, and muscle imbalance. This pain is felt between the distal end of the thighbone (femur) and kneecap (patella).
In young adults, it may be felt in persons whose kneecap doesn’t sit well in its socket while in older adults, it may be due to arthritis. It can cause buckling where your knees out of the blues cannot bear your weight anymore.
What are the best joint supplements for knees?
Treating Joint Pain can take a combination of supplements and physical activity. As the body ages, joint function diminishes. Some people experience mild joint pain while others may have severe joint pain that requires the help of a joint supplement. Several supplements have been claimed to be the best joint supplement for knees. According to experts in internal medicine, the following have been proven to contribute to joint health:
Natural Joint
If you are looking for a long-term knee joint relief supplement for chronic pain, we recommend Natural Joint as it is the only supplement in pill form that is made from natural ingredients that 100% plant-based. Natural Joint also has a clinical study that demonstrates reducing joint discomfort by up to 82%.
All you need to do is to take one capsule per day and it should also help alleviate other joint issues such as your hips, shoulders, elbow, neck and hands.
The health benefits of Natural Joint is that it should help improve joint function while giving the area anti inflammatory effects without using any chemical compound.
Fish oil
Although Fish Oil might not help to reduce pain, it can improve your overall joint health which is what makes Fish oil one of the best joint supplements. It contains omega-3-fatty acids which help combat inflammation. A study reported that people suffering from osteoarthritis benefited from taking 200mg of EPA and 400mg of DHA every day for 16 weeks. At the need of the trial, they experienced lesser chronic arthritis pain.
These omega-3 fatty acids have also been said to treat gout, a form of arthritis with more acute and severe symptoms. It also relieves joint pain in this condition. In people with rheumatoid arthritis, it may relieve stiffness as well.
Fish oil supplements doses usually range from 300mg to 1000mg daily. However, it is best to choose fish oil supplements that contain a minimum of 500mg of combined EPA and DHA. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are fish oil’s active ingredients.
Asides from fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in other foods like walnuts, dark-green leafy vegetables, flaxseeds, soybean oil, canola oil, and other seafood.
Joint Mud
If you are not a fan of taking capsules and still would like to reduce joint pain you can look at Joint Mud. It is a topical cream that you apply directly to the problematic areas. Joint Mud is also made with 27 organic plant-based ingredients and next to Natural Joint, it is the most the most natural way of relieving joint pain issues.
Joint Mud is backed up by a clinical study that demonstrates an average reduction in joint pain discomfort by 74% in just the first 18 minutes. You can apply Joint Mud to your knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, neck, and hands. Joint Mud can also help you in treating arthritis pain that is usually associated with arthritis joint pain.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is not a pain reliever. However, it is important for strong bones that make up your joints. It helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus which are essential for building strong and healthy bones. When you have adequate levels of vitamin D, you prevent falls and fractures. Phosphate is needed to help your muscles contract and enable the movement of the bones of your joints. Overall, it boosts your joint health.
When you have low vitamin D levels or vitamin D deficiency, you are prone to joint, bone, and muscle pain.
What are the trusted brands of joint supplements for knees?
Some brands have been tested, proven, and reviewed as the best brands of joint supplements. They are mostly pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory in nature. These joint supplements contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals and multiple beneficial ingredients that improve joint health, joint relief and joint mobility.
What are the risks associated with joint supplements?
Are there risks associated with taking dietary joint supplements? Yes, there are. Remember that supplements contain ingredients that are biologically active and have effects on the body. They could be harmful and cause adverse effects when you do the following:
- Take too much of a supplement or overdose.
- Take them for too long
- Combine supplements- some may have dangerous supplement-supplement interaction when taken together or within short periods.
- Use supplements with either OTC (over the counter medications) or prescription medicines.
- Substitute supplements for prescription medicines
- Use them when you have an underlying condition
- Use some supplements before, during, and after a surgical procedure.
To avoid these risks, consult your healthcare provider before taking any supplement. They will provide medical advice, discuss its doses, and how to identify warning signs. Also, read the label on the dietary joint supplement before buying or using it. You may also check up with noncommercial sites such as FDA, USDA, Arthritis Foundation and NIH to get reliable information.
What other therapies can support joint supplements and relieve joint pain?
While taking supplement, you may add these following to your healthy joints regimen:
Exercise
Exercise is important to maintain a healthy weight and lose extra pounds. This helps relieve weight on your joints. It also help to strengthen your joints and muscles. when you exercise, you also become more flexible and increase the range of motion of your joints.
Use of heat and cold packs
These can be applied to painful joints to ease pain and stiffness in your joints. they also help to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Massage
Massage is an alternative therapy that can help loosen joints and relieve pain and discomfort.
Conclusion
Your knee joints are very vital to your overall health. You bear most of your weight on them and several activities such as walking, running, jumping, cycling. Sitting, and so on need your knees. Knee joint pain is one the most common complaints in the United States and can be due to several reasons.
To improve and support joint health, there are supplements you can add to your diet. They include Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, Omega-3 fatty acids, Ginger, turmeric, green tea, amongst several others. Joint supplements work to prevent and treat joint pain and inflammation.
While many are beneficial to your health, it is important to consult your healthcare provider before taking any joint health supplements. Also, adhere strictly to the time of drug administration and doses. Notify your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any discomfort or adverse effects.
