Sport, especially bodybuilding, has a very pronounced effect on the condition of the ligaments and joints of the athlete’s body. This article will focus on the fact that the cartilage tissue that underlies the joints is subject to wear, in other words, to abrasion, if it is exposed to increased loads. Of course, the risk of abrasion of the cartilaginous tissue of the joint is maximum in bodybuilders and powerlifters, that is, in those sports where all training sessions are carried out using large weights.

Without claiming to be the ultimate truth, we will touch on the topic of prevention of joint diseases in bodybuilders, how you should build your workouts in order to prolong the life of your joints, as well as the nutritional habits of athletes with high loads on the joints.

As we all know, you cannot look inside the joint without a special operation. Are you sure that your knees, elbows, hip joints are perfectly lubricated, fail-safe mechanisms, and not worn, rusted pistons? In any case, one thing is clear that if not treated, then preventive measures must be applied. If the cartilage wears off, bodybuilding will have to give up. And not only on it. There is only one fate – crutches, a wheelchair … Actually, medicine is trying to transplant donor cartilage, but so far these are experiments. We repeat that all power is in prevention, it is on it that you should focus, the sooner you realize its necessity, the better your cartilage will feel.

About drugs that restore cartilage.

For a long time, doctors categorically did not believe in drugs that could restore damaged cartilage surfaces of the joints. It was assumed that there were no such drugs, and could not be in the world. After all, cartilage is not skin. Any cartilage damage is like scratching glass. It is difficult to find a remedy that would make a crack on the glass surface heal. However, not so long ago, medical experiments made a sensation – the amazing properties of glucosamines and chondroitin were discovered.
The effectiveness of both has been confirmed exclusively by numerous scientific experiments. Why is science so worn with these drugs, why does it double-check? The fact is that life expectancy is growing, and today many people live to the point of complete physical wear and tear of cartilage. Preventive use drugs promises the elderly a revolutionary continuation of an active life. In addition, there are diseases that slowly destroy cartilage tissue. In this case, such drugs can slow down or stop further destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joints with the systematic use of the latter.
As for the joints of bodybuilders, here glucosamine and chondroitin are a real panacea. Not only do they insure against abrasion of the articular surfaces, they also accelerate the healing of joint injuries and inflammation. In pharmacies, you can buy drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin, and in sports nutrition stores – food supplements with similar components. We are talking about the rare case when both the drug and the supplement are worth the money.

Vitamins in the prevention of cartilage destruction.

Joints and ligaments. Strengthening and restoration of joints and ligaments. So, glucosamine and chondroitin rightfully top our list, but there are other quite worthy supplements in it. In particular, vitamins C and E. “Feeding” with vitamin C greatly alleviates the suffering of arthritis patients. And this is almost the same as traumatic abrasion of cartilage. A similar effect gives beta-carotene and vitamin E, but vitamin C has a stronger effect. Niacin (also known as nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, or niacinamide) is also worth looking into. It is very beneficial for the joints. And finally, let’s add folate and vitamin B12 to our list.

Fats improve joint function

Essential fatty acids are called essential fatty acids because your body cannot do without them. Of these, linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid, contained in primrose oil and borage, should be distinguished. Among other things, they can bring a lot of benefits to your joints.
In one experiment, 40 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis received either evening primrose oil (6 grams per day) or a “dummy” (placebo) olive oil. At the same time, they all continued to take anti-inflammatory drugs. After a three-month course, patients who received evening primrose oil felt much better, while olive oil did not give any effect (which, however, was to be expected, although even a cabbage diet helps some to lose weight).

Without lubrication you won’t get far.
It can be considered proven that glucosamine, chondroitin, as well as certain vitamins and fats have a beneficial effect on the functioning and health of our joints. In bodybuilders, the joints work, as they say, for wear and tear.