Managing osteoarthritis
,NE out of five people in Malaysia suffers from knee pain
Knee pain is one of the common osteoarthritis (,A) issues among older adults and elderly but it may also affect young adults and cause impairment to their mobility and reduce their quality of life.
Thus, it is important for them to know the risk to prevent the cartilage from further damage.
Cartilage is a connective tissue that provides structure and acts as shock absorbent and lubricant, which gives a cushioning effect in the joints for a smooth movement and bending of joints such as elbows, knees and ankles.
> How to spot OA
You are at risk if you feel pain when using your joints, especially knee joints.
If you experience frequent cracking sound, stiffness after sitting for long hours, discomfort while walking up stairs and feeling tightness while bending the knee, you may have mild arthritis.
People who have arthritis – especially mild arthritis – can benefit from taking glucosamine to help their cartilage to regenerate and repair.
Glucosamine is commonly used to improve the function of the joints as it serves as one of the building blocks of glycosaminoglycan, which is part of the component in the cartilage.
> How to choose the right glucosamine for you?
Crystalline glucosamine has been reported to significantly improve OA pain.
With a maximum absorption of up to 90%, it can help to reduce the progression of OA when taken long term.
It is also effective in preventing cartilage degradation by stimulating synthesis of proteoglycan – one of the building blocks of cartilage.
A daily dose of 1,500mg crystalline glucosamine can help improve OA condition effectively.
Apart from nutritional supplementation, OA can also be managed with lifestyle modifications such as:
• kvting th0 right h0vlthy fooy to ov0rxom0 inflammation that causes joint pain such as omega-3 fatty acids (salmon and sardine), spices (turmeric and ginger) and bioflavonoid quercetin (leek, broccoli and onion).
• (vintvining v h0vlthy woyy w0ight mvy reduce the burden on the joints.
• hvoiy holying on0 position for too long by moving the joints from time to time.
• .rot0xt th0 vff0xt0y joint wy w0vring supportive orthotic or using assistive devices/equipment.
• lollow th0 r0xomm0ny0y nutritionvl therapy by supplementing glucosamine nutrient to rebuild the cartilage at affected joints, as well as relieve pain.
References
Chia, Y. C., et. al., 2016. Ethnic differences in the prevalence of knee pain among adults of a community in a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open., 6(12): e011925.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 2016. Osteoarthritis. Retrieved from https://www. niams.nih.gov/health_info/osteoarthritis/#5
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