This high-tech shoe ends back and knee pain!

Got creaky, painful joints? There’s good news! The latest hightech treatments, as well as a few proven age-old cures, can get your joints back in gear! Experts advise:

Growing tissue with Maci

Until now, surgeons could only remove damaged tissue responsible for joint pain, not regenerate healthy tissue. That’s all changed with a new Fda-approved treatment for knee problems, Maci. “It works by triggering your own healthy cells to actually grow new cells that mend worn cartilage in your knees,” says Stephanie Rand, D.O., associate program director of rehabilitation medicine at New York’s Montefiore Medical Center. The procedure is done in two steps: First, your healthy cartilage cells are harvested via a biopsy and grown in the lab. Next, those new cartilage cells are implanted where needed, and the results last for years! Ask your M.D. if it may be right for you.

Easing pain with new shoes

Wish there was an alternative to tedious, often painful physical therapy sessions? There is! A decade of Israeli research has led to a special shoe that can erase anywhere from 5% to 50% of back, hip and knee pain by helping to correct the subtle, but high-impact ways we misalign our bodies that lead to joint pain, Dr. Rand says. Called Apostherapy, it’s a customizable shoe with a microprocessor disc on the sole that’s programmed to reduce the impact of the way you walk on a particular arthritic joint. Check to see if your insurance company covers this treatment, then find a doctor in your area at Apos Therapy.com.

Cushioning with a shot

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural sugar present in joints, is essential for keeping them moving smoothly and easily. Trouble is, HA often dwindles over time! That’s where a treatment called viscosupplementation comes in. This five-minute FDAapproved procedure involves injecting HA where it’s needed to improve joint cushioning, decreasing pain significantly within days. “This substance gives the joint fluid its naturally slippery quality,” Dr. Rand says.

Nixing bloat with an herbal tea

Juniper berry tea is a natural diuretic that helps relieve pressure caused by fluid retention pressing in on joints, “such as in the case of rheumatoid arthritis,” says Rebecca Scritchfield, R.D.N., author of Body Kindness. Try drinking at least one cup a day. One option: Celebration Herbals Organic Juniper Berries Tea ($9.90, Amazon.com).

Curbing inflammation with olive oil

A compound (oleocanthal) in extravirgin olive oil reduces inflammation. In one study, 1 1/2 Tbs. eased pain as effectively as 200 mg. of ibuprofen!