Getting old / Bad Knees

[Dave Gray]

I'm 33.

This year, I've noticed more physical degradation in my body than others.  I'm specifically noticing soreness in my knees when I play sports.  It's affecting the way I run, cut, and stop, and is just generally pretty uncomfortable.

Though I suffered some knee damage in high school in one knee, both seem to be equally sore and weak, so I don't think that's related.

I have heard good things about taking glucosamine supplements as a joint lubricator, so I've started doing so.  However, being skeptical, when looking up any evidence-based claims, all I could find were personal testimony (which is highly unreliable).  I fear that this is just a fad with a placebo effect.

Do any of you have recommendations (stretches, exercises, supplements, claims, etc) to improve cartilage and tendon strength in your knees?

[Sunstroke]

It was soreness in knees and ankles that finally got me to stop playing hoops over at FAU... It got to the point that every time I played, I was sore to the point that I could barely walk for 3-4 days afterward.  Glucosamine didn't really do a lot for me either.

[bsfins]

A few things that help me a tad....

1.) It seems that If I've not had a enough,or too much calcium My knees bug the hell out of me....I have been pretty good about striking tha happy medium.

2.) It's all about the shoes...My dress shoes for court, even with extra arch support inserts,make my feet knees legs hurt. My older shoes (with the arch support,and inserts) seem to be harder on my knees. (Kind of a tip I got from Buddha )

3.) When I know I'm gonna run on the tread mill,or do something physical Neoprene braces help a tad. It gives me some peace of mind,sort of a security blanket.

[Dave Gray]

3.) When I know I'm gonna run on the tread mill,or do something physical Neoprene braces help a tad. It gives me some peace of mind,sort of a security blanket.

VidKid let me borrow (although I've had it forever now) a knee sleeve that helped give a little bit of comfort, but I don't know if it's just mental (peace of mind, like you said).

[CF DolFan]

Take fish oil with Krill along with your glucosamine. GNC has a great Fish Oil with Krill supplement so you won't need to take two different supps. I think its like $20 for a months worth but you can get it cheaper with a Gold Card or during the BOGO free. The stuff is very benificial in more ways than just joint pain. I actually would reccomend it to anyone. Krill is very highly reccommended because it is so healthy.  Google it and you can see for yourself.

[jtex316]

I like to run 3-4 times a week - but I've had to throw in stationary bicycle and elliptical machine usage in the mix because if I run a few days consecutively, i'll start to feel knee and calf discomfort that I didn't back in the good old days of playing hoops every day. I recommend doing that as well - non-impact type of aerobic stuff mixed in with running / b-ball / football / etc

[Fau Teixeira]

swimming is also a good low impact exercise

[Househead]

I play tennis once to twice a week and run two to three times a week. Not noticing any soreness, however I do notice a decline in speed.  Just not as quick and agile as I used to be. 

[StL FinFan]

Glucosamine/chondroitin supplements and Omega 3 fatty acids (which are in the fish oil) have not been scientifically shown to help with anything in humans.  However, they have not been shown to have any adverse effects, either, so eat up!  In dogs, they have been shown to help and I give my dog a supplement every day.

Dave, wait until you are over 40!   I find the neoprene supports help.  I have used them for playing soccer for many years and it has significantly reduced my pain afterward.  I have heard conflicting advice for heat or cold.  I guess it depends on the cause of the pain.  I use cold packs for 20-30 minutes if my knees ache the same day as the activity.

[Brian Fein]

You seem to be skeptical about a lot of medical things.  Glucosamine is a joint lubricant.  I think you are too fast to tag things with "placebo effect."  You need to take it for a while, and take 500-1000mg a day to see any effect.

just be careful with the pills, cause you can choke on them and die.

But, with anything, its more from underuse.  They will loosen up if you use them more.  When you were younger you used to play sports 3-5 times per week.  Now you probably play 1 time a week for 1 hour.  No coincidence...

I have had bad knees, mostly due to being overweight, since high school.  I notice that the more I use them, the less they hurt.

[bsmooth]

Take care of them. If you think it is bad now, wait till you run out of cartilage. My right knee is 2/3 of the way to a full replacement, and the left one is getting worse.
Glucosamine will not hurt, and some people swear by it.
There are also SynVis shots which last 9-12 months. I was given those and they really seemed to help, but it is painful and expensive.
I would honestly suggest moving to less impact aerobic exercises and sports. I would rather play less sports than be in the constant pain I am in now where I can play very little sports.

[TonyB0D]

HGH?  stem cells?

[Dave Gray]

You seem to be skeptical about a lot of medical things.  Glucosamine is a joint lubricant.  I think you are too fast to tag things with "placebo effect."  You need to take it for a while, and take 500-1000mg a day to see any effect.

I am skeptical about all kinds of stuff like this.  From the articles I've been reading from sources that I trust, it's saying that it's not proven to help any more than a placebo in double blinded studies (which is what matters to me).  I just try to be a knowledgeable user.

[Dave Gray]

Take fish oil with Krill along with your glucosamine. GNC has a great Fish Oil with Krill supplement so you won't need to take two different supps. I think its like $20 for a months worth but you can get it cheaper with a Gold Card or during the BOGO free. The stuff is very benificial in more ways than just joint pain. I actually would reccomend it to anyone. Krill is very highly reccommended because it is so healthy.  Google it and you can see for yourself.

Google what?  I don't trust testimony of individuals.  It's unreliable (or fraudulent).  People (especially when dealing with pain) will report something that's not there.  It's just human nature.  I looked up some generic fish oil stuff but couldn't find anything from a scientific study.  (Not that it's not there, I just couldn't find one on a quick search.)  I'd be interested to learn more, though, so if you have any specific links you think I should read, I certainly will.

[Brian Fein]

I'd be interested to see if these double-blind studies which you refer to were taken over an extended time.  Taking glucosamine for a week, or even a month, likely won't yield a markable difference, and I doubt anyone will invest a year into some random study.