Healthy aging is dependent on physical activity. It strengthens muscles and bones to perform tasks independently and decreases the chance of falling. It reduces the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Additionally, it prevents arthritis and other painful rheumatic diseases from affecting the joints. For optimal health, elderly adults should exercise 150 minutes each week according to the CDC.
However, many seniors are unable to move because of joint pain. Whether it’s because of a specific injury, work-related stress, a past sports career, or just old age, most of us will eventually experience joint pain so severe that it prevents us from exercising. Unfortunately, this can turn into a negative feedback loop; you exercise less, so your joints get worse, making you move less, which makes your joints even more stiff, and so on. Reducing this joint pain in older people would have an enormous impact on the quality of life of those seniors.
Thankfully there is something you can do to help. Using high quality natural joint supplements can dramatically reduce joint pain and promote mobility and flexibility in people aged 50, 60, even 70 and up! More importantly, using the best joint supplements over the years can help prevent any joint problems happening at all. In this article, we’re going to look at how joint supplements for seniors work, what the best ingredients are to look out for, and what the best joint supplement for older people is that you can buy right now.
How do joint supplements for seniors work?
As we age, our joints become more rigid and less flexible. These symptoms can be reduced by using joint supplements.
Most joint supplements contain a combination of ingredients that help maintain healthy joints, like glucosamine or chondroitin. Here’s how they work.
1. Repairing Tissue
The ligaments can’t be repaired because they aren’t as elastic as the other tissues in your body.
Joint supplements provide nutrients to the cartilage and ligaments. These supplements can help reduce joint pain and inflammation.
This allows for movement and strengthens the joint.
2. Restoring Cartilage
To prevent joints from rubbing together and becoming worn down, a cushioning material is needed. This cushioning material, cartilage, is known. It is composed of elastic tissue with a layer of collagen and surrounded by water-filled cells.
Water and proteoglycans make up the majority of cartilage. These provide the flexibility and resilience necessary to withstand normal movement and wear. As we age, our cartilage becomes less flexible, less resilient and less capable of healing itself from injury or age.
The best joint supplements repair this cartilage by giving it the right nutrients that are not available in your diet.
3. Lubricating the joint
Synovial fluid is the fluid which bathes and nutrients our joints. It is essential for joint health. It contains many proteins, including hyaluronic acids, which help in lubricating the joint and preventing friction.
By adding nutrients to synovial fluids, joint supplements help keep them healthy. These supplements provide essential vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acid, as well as amino acids and other substances. These substances are essential for maintaining healthy synovial fluids. Some joint supplements are effective for treating tendonitis precisely because they promote synovial fluid production and joint lubrication.
Ingredients to look for in joint supplements for seniors
Supplements for joint health can help you feel more comfortable, increase your exercise frequency, and improve your joint health. What is important is that you look for joint supplements that combine multiple ingredients that have been proven to work in clinical trials. The best joint supplement will combine natural ingredients which support joint health and reduce joint pain in different but complimentary ways. Here is a list of the most effective ingredients for reducing joint pain in seniors.
Turmeric/curcumin
Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, contains curcumin. This powerful natural anti-inflammatory may help to reduce pain and increase mobility in those suffering from osteoarthritis. Dozens of clinical trials Turmeric should be taken with black pepper or bioperine to increase absorption. The bioavailability of turmeric when taken by itself is actually quite low, while just a small amount of black pepper increases its bioavailability by orders of magnitude.
Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA).
In a 2020 study, omega-3 oils significantly decreased joint swelling and tenderness in patients suffering from rheumatoidarthritis. Supplements such as docosahexaenoic (DHA), can help seniors achieve the right levels to improve joint function.
Chondroitin and glucosamine
As we age, the cartilage around our joints decreases. Chondroitin and glucosamine are natural compounds found in cartilage. Supplements containing these substances have been shown to reduce the pain associated with cartilage loss, and it is believed that supplementing with both glucosamine and chondroitin together is more effective at promoting cartilage strength than taking either substance alone. A handful of studies have found that taking glucosamine and chondroitin together may even speed up cartilage repair following injury or chronic cartilage erosion which we see so often in old age.
The best joint supplement for seniors should contain a generous serving of both glucosamine and chondroitin. These are arguably the two most important ingredients in any joint supplement for older people (aged 50+), so they really need to be given large doses.
MSM
MSM, or Methylsulfonylmethane, is an organosulfur compound regularly used in the best joint supplements because of its ability to support joint health and integrity over long periods of time. MSM is a fundamental building block of many of the most important structural components of your joints. It also appears to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it an incredibly effective natural joint supplement.
Clinical studies have even found that MSM is effective for treating the symptoms of arthritis and chronic joint pain. Interestingly, one clinical trial found that MSM taken with glucosamine and chondroitin was more effective at decreasing pain and stiffness in people with knee osteoarthritis than glucosamine and chondroitin alone.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to soft, fragile bones. Numerous studies on elderly populations have found a correlation between low vitamin D levels and joint pain and joint injuries. Clinical trials have even shown that low Vitamin D levels can cause joint stiffness and pain in otherwise healthy young people too. The reason for this is that Vitamin D is needed for the absorption of calcium into your bones; if you don’t have enough Vitamin D, then your bones can’t utilize any calcium you eat. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology showed that many seniors are deficient in Vitamin D, so any good joint supplement for seniors needs to consider using some Vitamin D.
Cannabidiol oil (CBD)
While CBD oil for pain has not been approved by the FDA, many people are enjoying its benefits. CBD oil does not have an intoxicating effect similar to tetrahydrocannabinol. However, it can activate the Endocannabinoid System within your central nervous system to regulate pain. CBD oil can be used topically to alleviate joint pain or taken orally in capsules or gummies. The Arthritis Foundation advises patients to consult their doctor before using CBD oil.
Is it possible to combine joint pain pills with other medications?
It is always best to consult a doctor before taking any new medication. However, taking some supplements together can provide joint pain relief. Elixinol Active Omega Turmeric Capsules is one example of a product that combines the benefits from multiple supplements. One capsule contains three ingredients: turmeric to reduce inflammation, Omega-3DHA to support joint health, CBD to lower pain.
Exercises for Seniors with Joint Care
Seniors are more at risk for developing arthritis, osteoporosis and other joint problems. It is vital to keep joints healthy and strong by staying active. Exercise is a great way to reduce arthritis pain and improve movement.
Aerobic exercise is great for muscle strength and bone density. Aerobic exercise can help you lose weight and manage your diabetes. You may also find other exercises helpful.
Yoga is a form of stretching and strengthening your muscles. It can improve balance, reduce stress, and alleviate arthritis pain. Tai Chi combines gentle movements and deep breathing to calm the mind and strengthen the body’s muscles.
What is the best joint supplement for seniors on the market right now?
The trick to effectively reducing joint pain and improving mobility in old age is to combine strategies. It isn’t enough to just do joint rehabilitation and flexibility exercises; your diet and supplement regime also needs to be dialled in. The converse is true too – even the best joint supplement by itself isn’t going to give you the same results you’d get when combining it with proper diet and exercise routines.
That said, using the most effective supplement for joint pain and mobility is the best way to give yourself a head start on treating chronic joint pain as you get older.
The single best joint supplement for seniors on the market right now is Physio Flex Pro.
Physio Flex Pro is the most complete joint supplement on the market right now, and it is absolutely perfect for seniors living with chronic joint pain. Not only does it provide active relief from joint pain right now, but it also promotes your body’s natural joint maintenance and repair processes to build up joint strength, prevent injuries, and keep your joints, ligaments, tendons and cartilage healthy over many years. Physio Flex Pro is easily the best value natural joint supplement money can buy today. To top it off, this is the only joint supplement on the market to be approved and prescribed by real physiotherapists.
The company recently introduced a complimentary krill oil and turmeric supplement called Flex Relief XL. When taken together, these two joint supplements provide natural yet very real and fast-acting relief from joint pain and stiffness. We strongly recommend reading our full Physio Flex Pro review before buying any joint supplements. It is also worth visiting the Physio Flex Pro website to learn more before you buy: PhysioFlexPro.com.
Johan Theorin is an author, editor, and competitive cyclist. He is the author of most of the content on this website, and he is the site editor. Johan has spent years researching joint health, sports performance and recovery. He is a leading biohacking expert and an experienced physiotherapist.
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