Tom Willemann Health Tips

"Regular Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."

Use the Form Below to Get Them All Sent to You for FREE

Joint Supplements: Can Popping a Pill Cure What Ails You?

PTD0115_PillWalk through the supplement aisle of your local pharmacy, and you will likely see row upon row of “joint supplements”—pills or liquids that promise to relieve joint stiffness and pain, and increase mobility. If there are so many of these products on the market, they must be effective—right?
Unfortunately, the answer is not quite so simple. While it would be wonderful to swallow a pill and relieve your knee pain, the evidence has not been particularly favorable for these joint supplements. That fact, however, has not stopped people from buying them; according to Nutrition Business Journal, Americans spent $753 million in 2012 on glucosamine and chondroitin supplements in an attempt to soothe pain and stiffness from arthritis.
Here are a few things to keep in mind before adding your hard-earned money to this impressive total:
• The studies are inconclusive. A 2010 study published online in the British Medical Journal that assessed previous research on the topic found no clinically relevant effect of chondroitin, glucosamine or a combination of the two on either joint pain or joint space narrowing. Several studies assessing previous research show no difference between taking glucosamine/chondroitin and a placebo. In fact, treatment guidelines for arthritis of the knee issued in 2013 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons do not include the use of supplements due to the lack of convincing research.
• These supplements may not contain what they claim to contain. A 2013 Consumer Reports study tested 16 joint supplement products. Six of them contained only 79% to 87% of the labeled amount of chondroitin; one contained only 65%.
• These supplements may interfere with other medications. While these products are typically safe and harmless, they may interact with certain prescription drugs, such as blood thinners.
Rather than turning first to an unproven supplement, instead start by focusing on exercises that have been shown to help osteoarthritis and joint discomfort. Using evidence-based modalities, we can design an individualized exercise program for you that can get the results you desire. Discuss your joint health with us before heading to the drugstore to spend your hard-earned money on dubious supplements.
Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Wyckoff, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Bergen County region. This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative program.

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
Share This