Is it genuinely beneficial to use joint medication in strength sports?

Joints are flexible connections of bones that facilitate fluid movement. To prevent excessive wear of bones and ensure smooth motion, joints contain cartilage tissue. Without this element of the musculoskeletal system, it is impossible to imagine proper human functioning. However, joint diseases have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Disability caused by joint diseases is now the leading health issue. Even among children and young people, pathological changes in joints are increasingly observed. In bodybuilding, joint functionality is crucial for achieving high performance and maintaining health.

Why is joint reinforcement so indispensable? People with arthritis and degenerative diseases confirm that every movement is painful during a flare-up of the disease. There are even moments when they cannot move without the help of others. This is due to the lack of particular attention to temporary joint pain, and joint reinforcement is not considered necessary. There are many different medications that contribute to joint reinforcement. Their composition usually consists of such elements as collagen, chondroitin, and glucosamine. These elements make up the main building block of cartilage tissue and serve to restore the elasticity of joint surfaces and lost volume. However, it is not true that these substances completely cure joint diseases. One can only temporarily restore the cartilage structure. It is obvious that one needs to take these medications from time to time, and if we do it regularly, the risk of joint diseases will be reduced to a minimum. There are also other medications that contribute to joint reinforcement but are less effective. These include: vitamins and minerals, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, bromelain, shark cartilage, methylsulfonylmethane, S-adenosylmethionine, and turmeric.

In order to reconstruct and fortify the joints, medications are usually administered for a duration of 30–40 days twice annually. Obviously, we should not limit ourselves to taking only one medication, but rather utilize a combination of diverse active ingredients. When taking the aforementioned medications in conjunction with anti-inflammatory agents, the period of intake should be curtailed to 1-2 weeks. Prior to initiating the consumption of joint medications, it is crucial to thoroughly acquaint oneself with the dosage listed on the packaging and contrast it with the doses of other ingested substances. The consumption of joint medications, as well as other substances, may trigger the manifestation of side effects, which depend on individual bodily tolerance and the consumption of higher dosages than recommended. Generally, the surplus of substances is expelled from the body naturally without any repercussions.

Indispensable fatty acids are of paramount importance for the human body, without which proper functioning is not feasible. When it comes to joints, linoleic acid and γ-linolenic acid warrant special consideration, which are present in evening primrose oil and borage oil. In a study, 40 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis were administered either evening primrose oil (6 g daily) or a placebo in the form of olive oil. All patients were also taking anti-inflammatory drugs. After 3 months of treatment, those who were taking evening primrose oil experienced relief, while those who were taking olive oil displayed no results.