Protect Your Joints

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating and progressively degenerating condition, inflicting at times excruciating pain in the sufferer. While some forms may arise as a result of genetic predisposition, there are some preventative steps that can be taken, and even steps that will slow its progress or at least minimize its effects. As with many other joint problems, knowledge is crucial.

While there are many different joints in the human body, the mobile ones share certain structural features in common. Caring for these can be the key to future joint health.

Starting from the outermost layer, every joint is bounded by a tough, fibrous wall – the joint capsule – which helps provide strength and stability. Inside the capsule is the synovial membrane, composed of cells which secrete synovial fluid. This is a major component of the joint’s lubrication system and is a thick, yellow liquid which obtains its color from hyaluronic acid. People suffering from osteoarthritis are often given injections directly into their joints – the disease depletes the amount of naturally-produced hyaluronic acid in the sufferer’s joint and thus the joints need to be replenished with periodic injections.

Inside the joint the moving ends are coated in an astonishing substance called cartilage, a substance which is eight times more slippery than ice. Despite our aptitude for space flights and moon landings, the human species has not yet developed a product that reproduces its capabilities. It soaks up water from the joint fluid while the joint is at rest (i.e., not weight-bearing), however, as soon as the individual brings weight to bear upon the joint, even standing up, the cartilage in the knee joints squeezes out the excess water, thus cushioning and lubricating the joint.

Cartilage also contains negatively charged molecules called chondroitin. As soon as the joint bears weight, the molecules are pushed together – but like similar poles of a magnet, the closer they get, the more they repel one another. This force makes the cartilage extremely strong and resilient.

Sadly, osteoarthritis thins and depletes the cartilage, resulting in painfully rough and friction-laden surfaces rubbing together. One of the most important ways of protecting the cartilage from wear and tear is to keep the muscles surrounding the joint strong and firm. This protects the joint (and the cartilage) from bearing the full weight of the load.

In addition to the protective support afforded by strong muscles, tendons (which are essentially straps of fibrous tissue attaching muscle to bones) also assist in protecting the joint, and ligaments (additional fibrous bands) work by attaching bone to bone. In areas such as the knees and elbows, joints are also cushioned by little fluid-lined sacs known as bursae (there are approximately 160 scattered throughout our bodies).

Clearly, exercise can assist in strengthening muscles, tissues and ligaments, but it can also cause damage unless one takes appropriate steps. Running on hard surfaces with improperly cushioned, ill-fitted running shoes will subject knee joints in particular to repeated trauma. Swimming and gentle weights though are excellent ways in which to tone muscles, while protecting the precious joints from wear and harm.

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