As tennis players, our joints take a pounding out there on the court. Particularly our knees, ankles and
shoulders. An ounce of prevention can help here too.

There are several nutritional supplements that can help maintain healthy bones and joints and extend our playing careers.

Glucosamine is a supplement the body uses to build chondrocytes. Experiments have shown that merely placing glucosamine in the presence of chondrocytes stimulates these cells to synthesize the components that make up cartilage.

One clinical trial conducted in Portugal involved osteoarthritis subjects given 500 mg of glucosamine
sulfate three times a day. Within eight weeks, some 59% of the subjects (out of 1208 involved) reported “good” reductions in pain and stiffness. In another eight-week study, 1.5 grams of glucosamine sulfate was compared with 1.2 grams of the pain reliever ibuprofen per day. Although the ibuprofen reduced pain faster, by the end of the study it was the glucosamine which was reported to have produced a greater overall level of pain relief.

Another supplement, chondroitin, attracts and holds water into the molecules that glucosmine helps form. This fluid serves as both a shock absorber to the joints as well as nourishment, since cartilage has no blood supply from which to draw nutrients.

Of course, there are many other nutrients that help protect the bones and joints. Taking a high quality
mineral supplement containing calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron and manganese can help maintain structural integrity.

These supplements are available in many forms such as tablets, capsules and liquids.

And, you don’t have to wait until you are in pain to take these supplements. Many feel that taking them can delay the onset of arthritis and joint pain. So, decide for yourself if you need an ounce of prevention. It may not help you serve harder, but you should be able to serve longer.