| Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis | | | | A trip to the doctor will commonly result in a physical |
| affecting the shoulder. This painful form of arthritis can | | | | examination and x-rays. Many, if not most, physicians |
| affect anyone, but is most prevalent among patients | | | | then recommend a litany of treatments ranging from |
| over the age of 50. Prior shoulder injury can also | | | | prescription pain relievers or cortisone injections to |
| predispose a person to developing osteoarthritis and | | | | physical therapy or surgery. |
| research indicates that osteoarthritis in the shoulder | | | | While all of these options are viable, each comes with |
| may be genetically linked. | | | | specific risks. Stomach upset, headaches and stroke |
| Also known as degenerative joint disease or | | | | are only a few of the risks associated with such |
| wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis is characterized | | | | treatments. With this in mind, many physicians may |
| by a wearing away of the cartilage cushion in the joint. | | | | also recommend dietary modification and nutritional |
| As this cartilage cushion degenerates, bare bones are | | | | supplementation for relief without the risk. |
| exposed to each other resulting in inflammation and | | | | The most common nutritional supplement physicians |
| pain. The disease is progressive and there is no cure. | | | | recommend for osteoarthritis relief is glucosamine and |
| Although symptoms get progressively worse as the | | | | chondroitin. These two molecules occur naturally in the |
| condition of the joint worsens, they do not always do | | | | joints of all humans and are the foundation of healthy |
| so steadily. In other words, you may have a good | | | | bones and joints. In a damaged joint, glucosamine and |
| month or a bad month... a good day or a bad week. | | | | chondroitin are in short supply and the body doesn't |
| The unpredictable nature of such pain can lead to | | | | have the raw materials necessary to build new |
| great frustration, particularly for those who are more | | | | cartilage. With regular supplementation, however, the |
| active. | | | | body has an advantage and can actually repair the |
| Symptoms vary, but common indicators of | | | | damage caused by osteoarthritis. This is in sharp |
| osteoarthritis include pain in the joint, swelling, stiffness | | | | contrast to commonly prescribed non-steroidal |
| and limited range of motion, and a sense of "catching" | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs that only reduce inflammation |
| in the joint - a pesky "trick" shoulder that "acts up" at | | | | temporarily and do nothing to improve the condition of |
| the most inopportune time. | | | | the damaged joint. |