CHONDROITIN SULFATE AND GLUCOSAMINE FOR KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Physiotherapy in Edmonton for Knee Problems

A hearty welcome to Excelsior Physiotherapy’s information resource on glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for knee osteoarthritis.

The knee osteoarthritis treatment without surgery aims at lowering the pain and promoting or maintaining joint function. Physicians usually prescribe NSAIDs and acetaminophen medications for bringing down swelling as well as pain among arthritis sufferers. Nowadays two distinct compounds are widely tried by people dealing with arthritis, which are chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. These dietary supplements for knee osteoarthritis are available in pill form for repairing and protecting cartilage cells. However, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine have limited research data supporting their effectiveness in treating knee osteoarthritis. Both these compounds are also accepted by medical professionals.

This informative guide will focus on:

• The effectiveness of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine is based on doctor’s opinion.
• The way treatments will be administered
• Effects of the treatment
• How Excelsior Physiotherapy approaches knee osteoarthritis with rehabilitation
  treatment

Which part of the knee is mostly affected by osteoarthritis?

The main issue of knee osteoarthritis is that it causes the articular cartilage to degenerate rapidly. Articular cartilage refers to the soft lining covering the bone ends and the joint's meeting spot. It offers your knee joints the ability to move freely without any friction. The articular joint is maintained in a slippery state, thanks to the presence of joint lining fluid of the synovial membrane. This synovial fluid is found in an enclosure of tissues at the joint capsule containing the synovial joints.

Hyaluronic acid is present in your synovial fluid and articular cartilage, which keeps the joints well moisturized by lubricating to avoid friction. It also lets the cells work and move inside the joint smoothly. When there is degeneration of articular cartilage, the bone gets uncovered and causes friction when rubbing the bone leading to pain. Osteophytes or tiny growths like bone spurs might also occur in the joint.

How Doctors Use These Compounds to Achieve the Desired Output?

Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are naturally occurring substances that can be found in your joint cartilage. Both substances are administered as shots or as pills. It is believed that both chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine can repair or protect the cartilage that has incurred damage. Studies have revealed that such supplements will have a positive effect on lowering swelling, tenderness, and pain while supporting ankle joint mobility. The glucosamine supplement gets absorbed into the synovial fluid quickly and promotes hyaluronic acid production, which is essential for healthy cartilage and lowering pain. Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine can bring down inflammation, lower joint pain, and knee tenderness. Both these compounds perform uniquely than the NSAIDs. Their results last longer and have very less side effects. Studies show that chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are beneficial and show effects within 8 to 12 weeks of administration.

Treatment with chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for knee osteoarthritis

Initial Preparation for The Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Have a discussion with your physician regarding chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine supplements before commencing the knee osteoarthritis treatment. It is always important to know that such supplements are not advisable for all types of arthritis, as some might be highly responsive to physiotherapy. Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are not wonder drugs which can perform magic. They are one of the comprehensive treatments available for knee osteoarthritis.

Treatment Procedure

Your physician would usually prescribe about 500 mg of glucosamine orally thrice a day dosage or 1000 mg two times a day. However, the dosage of this supplement might vary based on an individual’s body condition when treating knee osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate might be prescribed at around 1200 mg per day.

Treatment Complications

Like any pain-relieving drugs, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine also have a few side effects. However, they are much milder when compared to NSAIDs. While for some, there might be zero side effects, some might experience any one of the following symptoms.

• Gastrointestinal issues
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Headaches
• Loose stools
• Fluttering of heart
• Leg discomfort
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Skin reaction
• Heartburn
• Edema

Patients taking medication for any chronic diseases, nursing mothers, pregnant women, kids, and diabetics must consult their doctors for approval for taking these supplements.

After Treatment – What to Expect?

Most of the patients suggest benefiting from the supplements even after discontinuing them. Though chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine might take a bit of time to show effects than NSAIDs, their benefits are long-lasting.

Rehabilitation Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

Even though chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are highly useful in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, they must not be used as a standalone treatment. Knee osteoarthritis management can be fruitful only when teamed up with lifestyle changes and physiotherapy for weight loss and to promote your physical health. At Excelsior Physiotherapy, we strongly believe that it is important for you to have a clear-cut idea about knee osteoarthritis to have an effective treatment output. We ensure that we educate you about knee osteoarthritis to help you have a better understanding of the ways to handle your symptoms.

Treatment Modalities

With our physiotherapy treatment in Edmonton at Excelsior Physiotherapy, you will feel excellent pain relief from knee osteoarthritis. We make use of electrical and heat modalities like interferential current and ultrasound might be useful for keeping such symptoms at bay. While ice and heat modalities might prove beneficial for a few, as they might be soothing for painful joints. Sometimes, massage therapy will help in relieving pain while acupuncture treatment in Edmonton might be beneficial for knee osteoarthritis.

Range of motion Exercises

As a part of rehabilitation therapy for knee osteoarthritis, you will also learn strengthening and range of motion exercises to help straighten and bending of the knee. Your physiotherapist will also teach you a set of exercises for performing in your home and at the clinic for better relief. The physiotherapists in Edmonton will help you perform exercises using a stationary bike to maintain joint health and improve your knee’s motion range. They might also perform joint mobilization for smooth movement of knee joints. They might also suggest you use an electrical muscle stimulator for kindling the hip and knee joints and muscles to improve alignment and joints. Elastic bands as well as light weights might also be used for increasing strength and build resistance.

Excelsior Physiotherapy Experience

Most often, the patients facing knee osteoarthritis issues feel much better when they combine our physiotherapy rehabilitation program in Edmonton at Excelsior Physiotherapy when combined with the chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine supplements. They were able to manage their symptoms in a better way, feel less pain, enhance their activity levels and improve quality of life. We are always here to assist you at every phase of your treatment and establish cordial relations with your physician for better management and outcome.

Excelsior Physiotherapy offers physiotherapy services in Edmonton for knee osteoarthritis.