Written by Patrick Arnold
Bare with me guys, it's a great read for viewers interested in joint supplementation, which I currently am!
Lots of athletes suffer from chronic discomfort in their joints, which is usually due to long-term overuse. This discomfort can be accelerated by poor training techniques, inadequate rest, inadequate nutrition and a variety of other factors. The bottom line is that once you have developed a chronic connective tissue injury, it is very difficult to recover. The process requires cessation from certain exercises for quite a long time (which sucks) as well as traditional treatments such as
ice/heat, mild stretching and physical therapy. The process is usually frustratingly slow and improvement is often minimal, even after several months.
The most common joint-related injury in strength athletes is chronic tendonitis (also known as tendinosis). Cartilage and ligament injuries are seen less commonly; these are usually a result of acute injury or a more serious degenerative condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. This month, I will be speaking mainly in the context of tendonitis-type injuries, although much of what I present will be applicable to all types of joint problems.
Adequan, also known as polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, is an injectable preparation that is chemically similar to the mucopolysaccharides found in connective tissue itself. Adequan inhibits some of the proteolytic enzymes that degrade the structural integrity of connective tissue. Additionally, Adequan can act as a precursor from which the body can increase production of the proteoglycans that Make Up connective tissue. Adequan also reduces inflammation by suppressing production of prostaglandin E2 and increases hyaluronic acid concentrations in the joint, thereby making synovial fluid more viscous. This injectable is commonly used in animals such as dogs and horses and is widely available on the veterinary market.
Aprotinin consists of a polypeptide molecule. It used to be isolated from the lungs of cows, but now it may be made via transgenic bacteria or plants. Its primary use is for the control of bleeding during cardiac surgery, but it is also used to treat tendonitis and other joint-related maladies. Aprotinin has strong anti-proteolytic properties (inhibits breakdown of proteins), which makes it useful for the treatment of connective tissue disorders. When connective tissues are injured and inflamed, they are highly vulnerable to the actions of enzymes such as collagenase and hyaluronidase, which can break down key structural components. Aprotinin will work to suppress these actions, which can help switch the metabolic balance away from catabolism and toward regeneration and healing.
Aprotinin is another product that needs to be injected into the damaged tissue, so it’s not the most user-friendly stuff. It also can give a severe allergic (anaphylactic) reaction in some users, and people often experience an intense itchy sensation after using the stuff. On the plus side, it is relatively inexpensive and readily available as a prescription. On the minus side, it is related to heparin and shares some of its blood-thinning properties. So if you have a stomach ulcer, are going to have surgery, or have a condition where the risk of bleeding is a problem— avoid the stuff.
Cynatine, also known as functionalized keratin, is obtained by the partial chemical digestion of sheep’s wool (from New Zealand sheep). Keratin is a protein found in hair and it is very tough, fibrous and insoluble due to an abundance of what are known as ‘disulfide bonds.’ In the manufacturing process for Cynatine, the disulfide bonds are broken and the resulting protein becomes water-soluble. When administered orally, this digestible protein supplies highly sulfated peptide building blocks for connective tissue construction. It also has been shown to greatly inhibit the production of the inflammatory cytokine prostaglandin E2. On top of that, it has very potent antioxidant properties (both intrinsically and via increasing cell’s glutathione production), which helps protect connective tissue from the destructive ravages of free radicals.
Glucosamine/Chondroitin is a very common supplement that’s cheap, and you really should be taking a couple of grams every day. It provides some of the building materials for tendons, ligaments and cartilage and has also been shown to suppress proteolytic enzymes and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Several studies have demonstrated reduced joint pain, as well as increased flexibility, with the use of glucosamine and chondroitin. What’s more, a recent study showed that glucosamine/chondroitin supplementation can increase the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid in joints (which increases synovial fluid viscosity). The downside to these supplements is that they take a few months for positive effects to be realized, so if you are someone who demands instant gratification, you better learn to be patient.
Hyaluronic Acid is a glycosaminoglycan (type of large carbohydrate molecule) that is present in many tissues in the body, particularly in joints where it helps form a sort of lubricating ‘goo’ called synovial fluid that is essential for the smooth function of joint flexion. It also is an important component of articular cartilage, where it plays a key role in providing resistance to compression. Hyaluronic acid may also provide biological functions beyond simple mechanical assistance, such as helping control growth and proliferation of cells. Doctors have used injectable hyaluronic acid solutions for years to build up the synovial fluid in injured joints, and many positive results have been reported.
There is a new synthetic hyaluronic acid-like product called
Synvisc, but some insist that it’s not as good as the original, since it won’t provide some of the cellular biological benefits that the real thing does. Oral hyaluronic acid is also available and shows promise, but the ‘joint jury’ is not yet in on the extent of its effectiveness.
Long R3-IGF-1 is something you’ve probably heard of. It’s an IGF-1 analog that has been altered so that it does not bind to serum-binding proteins. As a result, it is cleared from the body rather quickly, but this property also renders it valuable for use in localized applications. Many people have used this stuff in ‘****tails’ mixed with other things such as GH, aprotinin and hyaluronic acid. These ****tails are usually injected into the intraarticular space, where it helps speed the healing of injured cartilage. Long R3-IGF-1 has also been injected under the tendon sheaths to help speed recovery from tendon tears or chronic tendonitis. The strong anabolic properties of this peptide hormone may complement the activities of many other joint-recovery compounds.
