More and more people are trying glucosamine to ease their aching joints. But what exactly is it and can it help?
Joints can ache for many reasons, such as injury and overwork, but frequently the aching is due to osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis can affect anyone, but is more common in people over 50. It is often classed as a disease of old age and wear and tear on a joint. Joints are where two bones meet and move. The ends of the bones in the joint are covered by a smooth material called cartilage. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage is damaged and becomes rough and weak. This can lead to changes in the bone itself, resulting in pain and stiffness.
Regular exercise (consult your doctor if you have any health concerns), can help to strengthen joints and weight reduction, and if you are overweight, it can help to relieve pressure on hip and knee joints. Medicines such as paracetamol and codeine can often relieve the pain.
Glucosamine is another treatment taken by people to ease pain in joints. However, glucosamine is not actually a painkiller and is classified as a food supplement rather than a medicine.
People try glucosamine to relieve existing osteoarthritis, to try to prevent it and also to protect their joints from wear and tear during regular exercise.
