Glucosamine

J

jewfro18

0
I've heard it helps with joint/muscle pain (maybe just joints, I'm not sure about the muscle part), but I was wondering if anyone thought it was really worth buying?

I've been playing a lot of basketball lately, and my knees and other parts of my legs are starting to feel weak and just kind of painful. Sometimes I don't even play a lot, but after one game I feel like I am getting shin splints already. I'm also only 20 years old and in very solid shape.

My lower back has been killing me lately as well, but I don't think that's related to this as well.

Any advice on what I can take, I had just figured Glucosamine was the way to go, but I don't wanna drop $20 plus without some second opinions.

Thanks a lot for any help.
 
It's a very solid supp and def worth the $.
 
Alright thanks for the help. Any specific brand you recommend or it probably doesn't matter much? And I'm guessing I can just take it once a day in the morning or whatever?

Thanks.
 
Im thinking of getting some due to alot of trials riding. (Hoping around on a bike, lol) It does look a sport which will damage knees after a while.
 
I've been taking GNC's Glucosamine Chondroitin (sp) for about 3+ weeks now and have noticed a difference. My biggest thing was that my elbows would pop after a few sets of dumbbell exercises, and it seems to have ceased. I also have some minor knee issues (particularly my left knee) from time to time due to several dirt bike/snowboard crashes (Doh!) and my knees seem to feel better too. I bought the small 30 caplet bottle for like $8.99 and have a few pills left. I was told to take it for about a month or so and then stop, so I plan ob buying another small bottle and afterwards taking a break from it :)
 
NorCalJeeper said:
I've been taking GNC's Glucosamine Chondroitin (sp) for about 3+ weeks now and have noticed a difference. My biggest thing was that my elbows would pop after a few sets of dumbbell exercises, and it seems to have ceased. I also have some minor knee issues (particularly my left knee) from time to time due to several dirt bike/snowboard crashes (Doh!) and my knees seem to feel better too. I bought the small 30 caplet bottle for like $8.99 and have a few pills left. I was told to take it for about a month or so and then stop, so I plan ob buying another small bottle and afterwards taking a break from it :)
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Ok nice thanks for the info. So are you just taking one capsule a day or more?
 
Basketball/Glucosamine

As an older hoopster, my first question would be are you playing indoor (hardwood) or outdoor (cement/blacktop)? Big difference on the health of your ankles, knees, muscles and tendons. Outside on cement is probably the hardest surface to play on with the greatest chance of injury and muscle/leg/back fatigue. If you're like me and millions of others you'll just keep playing and put up with the pain. Supplements like glucosamine are well worth trying and with a healthy diet you can give yourself a leg up on long term goals. I took all that stuff for a while with mixed results. It's always hard to determine if a supplement works because of all the other factors that need to be considered. If I get great shoes take glucosamine and feel better which one was the reason?
Maybe more than supplements I would look at two other possible solutions.
1. Make sure you play in good sneakers with proper support and space age gel insole inserts.
2. Work on strength training specifically for basketball. Get your legs stronger with better explosion and flexibility. Squats.
Even if you're playing indoors these still are good suggestions. Rest and recovery should also be followed.
 
World B said:
As an older hoopster, my first question would be are you playing indoor (hardwood) or outdoor (cement/blacktop)? Big difference on the health of your ankles, knees, muscles and tendons. Outside on cement is probably the hardest surface to play on with the greatest chance of injury and muscle/leg/back fatigue. If you're like me and millions of others you'll just keep playing and put up with the pain. Supplements like glucosamine are well worth trying and with a healthy diet you can give yourself a leg up on long term goals. I took all that stuff for a while with mixed results. It's always hard to determine if a supplement works because of all the other factors that need to be considered. If I get great shoes take glucosamine and feel better which one was the reason?
Maybe more than supplements I would look at two other possible solutions.
1. Make sure you play in good sneakers with proper support and space age gel insole inserts.
2. Work on strength training specifically for basketball. Get your legs stronger with better explosion and flexibility. Squats.
Even if you're playing indoors these still are good suggestions. Rest and recovery should also be followed.
Click to expand...

Yea I know exactly what you are saying, there are plenty of other factors. I'm playing indoors, I actually have custom made orthodics (but they dont fit into my basketball shoes), and I do end up playing through any pain most of the time which probably just makes it worse in the long run.

I guess I might as well give the glucosamine a shot, can't hurt right?

Thanks for the help.

Oh and what are space age gel insole inserts? Couldnt find them online, at least not that specific name...thanks again
 
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Dude!! There's your answer. If you have been fitted for orthodics then you need them in your basketball shoes also. Get the guy to make some for all your shoes. Sometimes I feel like I have a firm grasp of the obvious and this may be one of them. My inserts are made of absorbethane (sp?) but each time I get some they have different styles and names. I used to get heal bruises and they solved that problem. Now I'm not a PHD so ask around if you can play in orthodics.
 
World B said:
Dude!! There's your answer. If you have been fitted for orthodics then you need them in your basketball shoes also. Get the guy to make some for all your shoes. Sometimes I feel like I have a firm grasp of the obvious and this may be one of them. My inserts are made of absorbethane (sp?) but each time I get some they have different styles and names. I used to get heal bruises and they solved that problem. Now I'm not a PHD so ask around if you can play in orthodics.
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Yea that's definitely part of it, but I got them made over a year ago for a size 11, and now I'm a size 11.5 or bigger. I would get another pair for my bball shoes, but they cost well over $200, which I just cannot afford right now. Thanks though.
 
That's rediculous advice LV.

And Norcaljeeper, there's a thing called....illusionary correlation :)

Basically, the supplement does absolutely nothing except perhaps a bit on the knee cartliage; even this though, is very equivocal. It certainly won't eliminate elbow popping, sorry.
 
matt182 said:
That's rediculous advice LV.

And Norcaljeeper, there's a thing called....illusionary correlation :)

Basically, the supplement does absolutely nothing except perhaps a bit on the knee cartliage; even this though, is very equivocal. It certainly won't eliminate elbow popping, sorry.
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I've used it for dry joints and it helped me tremendously.

What is "ridiculous" about that?
 
matt182 said:
That's rediculous advice LV.

And Norcaljeeper, there's a thing called....illusionary correlation :)

Basically, the supplement does absolutely nothing except perhaps a bit on the knee cartliage; even this though, is very equivocal. It certainly won't eliminate elbow popping, sorry.
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Does nothing? I can't imagine them making a supplement that does nothing. It has to do more than just help knee cartilage a little, right? I already purchased it anyway lol, so too late. I'll let you know if it helps.

Thanks.
 
matt182 said:
That's rediculous advice LV.

And Norcaljeeper, there's a thing called....illusionary correlation :)

Basically, the supplement does absolutely nothing except perhaps a bit on the knee cartliage; even this though, is very equivocal. It certainly won't eliminate elbow popping, sorry.
Click to expand...

You better cite your source of SCIENTIFIC STUDY/REVIEW that supports your claim.

Cuz I know LV does a lot of reading, as do I, and the last research I read...the supps he listed DO help with joint support. And the elbow is a joint. :violent:
 
Dude, I take glucasime w/ chondritin for about 2 years now. I only take it after I play basketball or when I feel my arthiritis. My right hands was stiff for several weeks until I started taking it again and poof, knuckle does not bother me as much.

Now I just take it on / off when needed BUT when I didn't take glucosamine w/ chondrition for 3 weeks I felt like an old old man.

In conclusion, this product works wonder for me. I don't believe it's mental or placebo effect either; I am pretty in touch w/ my body.
 
tic said:
Dude, I take glucasime w/ chondritin for about 2 years now. I only take it after I play basketball or when I feel my arthiritis. My right hands was stiff for several weeks until I started taking it again and poof, knuckle does not bother me as much.

Now I just take it on / off when needed BUT when I didn't take glucosamine w/ chondrition for 3 weeks I felt like an old old man.

In conclusion, this product works wonder for me. I don't believe it's mental or placebo effect either; I am pretty in touch w/ my body.
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Wow awesome news. I'm glad it worked for you. I'm really excited to get on this stuff now. Thanks.
 
malkore said:
You better cite your source of SCIENTIFIC STUDY/REVIEW that supports your claim.

Cuz I know LV does a lot of reading, as do I, and the last research I read...the supps he listed DO help with joint support. And the elbow is a joint. :violent:
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Well unfortunately the burden of proof is on LV, not me. You can prove me wrong if you like, but don't cite one or two articles that favour your view, cite a cochrane review or at least a meta-analysis.

Having a dodgy knee myself, I certainly wouldn't be so skeptical if I really thought it helped. I've looked at the evidence, and even had an opinion from a very respectable knee specialist.

Instead of wishful thinking hopeing this supplement will work for me, i'm trying to cycle and strengthen my knee as much as possible. Also taking fish oil supplements which - so they say - helps joint health (via different mechanisms) so i'm hoping that will help. If not, no worries, because it does other wonderful things.
 
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jewfro18 said:
Does nothing? I can't imagine them making a supplement that does nothing.
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LOL.....there is no such thing as a supplement that does nothing. The first thing any supplement does is make a company, distributor and retailer MONEY. Beyond that, there are PLENTY of supplements that provide the consumer with nothing. Several products are all hype, marketing and bullsh!t: actual clinical studies have found several of these products to entirely fail to provide any of the benefits the manufacturers claim. Your first clue is the label indicating that the product and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA: that pretty much means the claims are not substantiated and the quality is entirely uncertain.

In this particular case I have to side entirely with LV....the benefits of Glucosamine, as a supplement for joint health, have been well established through clinical studies & research. Heck, we've got a whole bunch of corpses walking around the racquetball courts who swear by the stuff. ;)

We live in a tough world....lots of products claim all sorts of things, and there are even clinical studies that "prove" things...and then later the results are disproved. An example is CLA, it was supposed to help burn fat, lean you out, preserve lean muscle, etc, etc. Turns out, in a study not commissioned by the distributor of the supplement, it took massive amounts over a long period of time to see just a marginal effect...and that effect was short-lived.

Believe it: manufacturers are combing through dark caves, tropical rain forest and the depths of the oceans to find the next fungi, berry or algae that'll promise everything from hair restoration, lower blood pressure and fat loss to longer erectile function.
 
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