Winchester chiropractor - is glucosamine good for your joints?

I was listening to Dr Mark Porter's program on radio 4 this afternoon in which the subject of joint pain was touched upon. They covered topics like 'Is running bad for your knees?' and 'do the common supplements glucosaime sulphate and chondroitin sulphate help reduce joint pain?'The evidence as presented in this program pointed to running in good shoes, on good surfaces and in the absence of previous knee injury or surgery being beneficial for the knee joints. If you are running and experiencing pain in your knees a thorough consultation including x-rays if necessary can be obtained at Winchester Sports and Spine where chiropractor Mark Kennedy or one of his associates will be able to identify the root cause of your pain and offer a treatment solution. Often the knee is affected by problems in the foot/ankle, hip or lower back, chiropractors are well versed in assessing these joints to ascertain whether there is any relationship between these joints and your painful knee. Treatment options can include orthotics (shaped innersoles for your shoes), manipulation and massage. Your Winchester chiropractor can deliver all of these treatment options. Of course if after your consultation it is determined that chiropractic is not the correct treatment option for you then an appropriate referral to another specialist will be recommended.Glucosamine is a commonly taken nutritional supplement that is considered to deliver to the body some of the raw materials necessary to make cartilage. Cartilage is the fibrous covering on the outside of your bones where they meet at your joint surfaces. It seems from the research that although it appears logical that the more of the building blocks for cartilage our body has the more it might produce this is not in fact what happens. There is little or no evidence according to today's radio show that there is any improvement in the growth of new cartilage but they did suggest that patients taking it sometimes reported a reduction in perception of pain.As a chiropractor in Winchester I have seen many patients over the years who have taken glucosamine, some believe it helps them and others are more sceptical about its benefits. You pay your money and make your choice. One thing I do know is that chiropractic care can help with back pain, neck pain, headaches and sports injuries so if you live in or around Winchester and are suffering muscle and joint pain we are here to help and advise.Mark Kennedy