When two bones come together to form a joint, the ends of those bones are lined by a white tissue called articular cartilage. Cartilage works like a cushion and helps the bones move smoothly when they move. If the joint is hurt, this tissue can be hurt, and it can't heal itself. Cartilage can get hurt by getting older, regular wear and tear, or getting hurt. When cartilage is damaged, it can't protect the joints when they move, so the joints may rub against each other and cause a lot of pain and inflammation.
Dietary nutrients, microfracture, drilling, abrasion arthroplasty, osteochondral autograft, and allograft transplantation are some of the ways that cartilage can be fixed.
Can you regrow lost cartilage?
There are some circumstances in which it is not possible to regrow cartilage at all, such as the degradation of articular cartilage. The treatment for this type of injury consists of promoting the rebuilding of bone underlying the eroded or damaged cartilage.
On the other hand, it is possible to encourage the renewal and repair of cartilage tissue in the majority of cases, particularly in cases where the cartilage damage is very mild.
This is why taking a serious outlook on preventative and protective measures for your joint cartilage
Preventative care for Cartilage
As your cartilage wears down, your mobility is affected and can become increasingly painful Making sure you’re protecting your joint cartilage as best you can is important before it’s irreversible without surgical intervention. To prevent joint problems try;
- Be active every day - pain can actually be made worse when you’re inactive as your joints become stiff. Regular cardio / aerobic exercise will get your blood flowing and keep your cartilage nourished. Or, try stretching exercises such as Yoga to avoid joint stiffness.
- Keep a healthy body weight - this will help keep stress and pressure off your weight bearing joints such as knees and hips.
- Reduce lifestyle choices that erode cartilage over time - this includes eating and drinking inflammatory foods, lifting heavy weights and avoiding high-impact sports.
However, realistically, we're going to keep eating and drinking foods that cause inflammation, keep lifting weights and playing sports with a lot of impact, and keep sitting at our computers for 8 hours a day.
So, for most people, the best thing to do is to take a high-quality joint vitamin that helps the body make more cartilage and protects cartilage from wear and tear. This means taking a joint stack with all of the key ingredients and others that are known to improve other parts of joint health.
What ingredients should be in joint and cartilage supplements?
For cartilage repair without surgery, you can take dietary supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin.
Chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine are found naturally in the body. They stop cartilage from breaking down and help the body make new cartilage. Chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine made from animal sources can be bought over the counter without a prescription and are suggested for restoring cartilage. Aside from these, other nutritional supplements like calcium with magnesium and vitamin D, S-Adenosyl-Methionine, and Methylsulfonylmethane are also suggested.
Chondroitin sulphate
This joint chemical helps form cartilage and connective tissue. Chondroitin, a sugar chain, gives cartilage its cushioning. When levels diminish, generally with age, knee and hip joints lose cushioning, making certain exercises more painful.
Glucosamine
At the moment, most people agree that glucosamine can help people with osteoarthritis who have joint pain. Some research suggests that it can protect the cartilage in the joints that is still there and help it heal. There is also evidence that a daily amount of glucosamine can help with the pain and stiffness of arthritis.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are often taken together in supplements. Glucosamine is a key component of chondroitin, making them ideal partners for cartilage repair.
In severe osteoarthritis patients, the combination appears to benefit joints. Global health bodies agree that glucosamine and chondroitin improve joint health. A 2010 study showed the combo as beneficial as prescription anti-inflammatories after two years for knee osteoarthritis. One study found that chondroitin alone improved arthritic hand joints.
Glucosamine is an absolute 'must-have' ingredient for any of the best joint supplements on the market if you want to feel an impact from adding it to your diet.
Collagen
We normally associate collagen with beauty products and skincare. More commonly known for its elasticity in the skin, it is also a vital protein in connective tissues. It is a lot more common in different parts of our body than people think.
Articular cartilage, which covers the ends of bones and helps to facilitate movement, is rich in collagen. Collagen degradation has been identified as an early stage of osteoarthritis, and once collagen has been destroyed, it can be extremely challenging to restore. This emphasises the significance of preventative care in the face of the alternative of arthritic joints and surgical intervention.
The best supplements for cartilage
Physio Flex Pro’s formula uses lab-tested A-1 grade ingredients which are carefully extracted compounds from natural sources. We’ve made sure to include a healthy amount of Chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine to help with protecting your cartilage from decreasing over time.
The full formula breakdown includes:
- Glucosamine HCL: 500mg
- Chondroitin Sulfate: 100mg
- Bromelain (Ananas comosus) 300mg
- Ginger Extract (std. to contain 5% Gingerols) : 250mg
- Turmeric Extract (std. to contain 95% curcuminoids) : 250mg
- Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) : 100mg
- Selenium (as Selenium Citrate) : 200mcg
- Bioperine (Black Pepper Extract) : 10mg
What do you need to consider before choosing a cartilage supplement?
Make sure the supplement you choose contains Chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine. These are the building blocks of healthy joint cartilage. You can also take daily collagen, Vitamin D and K to help strengthen your cartilage if your body is deficient in them.