Best Joint Supplements for Athletes with Joint Pain

Are your joints cracking or popping when working out? Does your knee hurt after leg day? Joint pain is a common complaint, but there are ways to keep it under control. 

About 14.6 million Americans report severe joint pain. This symptom is often due to arthritis, but it can also result from bad lifting form, overtraining, or overuse injuries. Arthritis and other related disorders affect individuals of all ages, not just the elderly. 

Whether you want to prevent or relieve joint pain, it’s crucial to watch your diet. Limit inflammatory foods, fill up on calcium-rich foods, and get plenty of vitamin D. Joint supplements, such as glucosamine and omega-3s, may help too. 

Glucosamine, for example, may help reduce inflammation and prevent collagen degradation in athletes. Curcumin, an active compound in turmeric, has strong anti-inflammatory effects and may help decrease joint pain and swelling. S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe), fish oil, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) are all a good choice. 

Your lifestyle matters too. Joint supplements cannot compensate for bad lifting form and poor nutrition. Also, they won’t cancel out the effects of cigarette smoking on bone health. 

Today we’ll talk about joint pain and its causes. Our team will also review the best supplements for joint pain to help you choose one that meets your needs. 

Let’s dive in! 

Common Causes of Joint Pain and Inflammation

Before popping pills, try to find out why your joints hurt. Arthritis-related pain, for example, requires a different approach than joint pain due to overuse injuries like tennis elbow or tendonitis. 

Joint supplements can help to some extent, but if there’s an underlying condition causing your pain, you may need more extensive treatment. Otherwise, your condition may worsen and become chronic. 

Many different diseases and injuries can lead to painful joints. A possible cause is osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Sufferers may experience joint pain and stiffness, aches, swelling, and decreased range of motion. 

In some cases, overuse injuries might be to blame. Tennis elbow, for example, causes pain on the outside of the elbow. Despite its name, it can affect anyone — not just tennis players. 

Typing, writing, painting, weightlifting, and manual work can all lead to tennis elbow. The same goes for golfer’s elbow, which causes pain on the inside of this joint. 

Sprains and strains may cause joint pain too. Not to mention bursitis, gout, and tendonitis, which affect millions of people worldwide. 

Bursitis, for instance, leads to severe pain and swelling in the knees, elbows, shoulders, and other joints that are subject to repetitive use. 

Joint pain is often accompanied by inflammation. A diet rich in sugar and trans fats, smoking, stress, and other lifestyle factors may trigger systemic inflammation, which in turn may damage your joints and bones. If you’re obese or overweight, the extra pounds can put stress on your joints and cause pain. 

Daily habits like texting with your thumb, wearing ill-fitting shoes, or skipping stretching can all affect your joints in the long run. And so does prolonged sitting. As with most things, it’s the small details that matter. 

Do Joint Supplements Work? 

Consumers spent $21,323.8 million on bone and health supplements in 2017. This number is expected to double by 2026. 

Vitamin D, vitamin K, omega-3s, collagen, calcium, and other joint health supplements are selling like crazy, but do they really work? 

The answer depends on who you ask. As with most health products, the research is mixed. Glucosamine, for example, has been shown effective in some studies and useless in others. 

First of all, their quality and efficacy vary among brands. Back in 2012, Consumer Reports analyzed the composition of 16 joint supplements from different producers. All formulas contained glucosamine and chondroitin. 

Seven out of the 16 products tested didn’t contain all of the ingredients listed on the label. 

One of them had only 65% of the amount of chondroitin advertised. Surprisingly, these formulas came from top brands like CVS, GNC, and NOW Foods. 

We’re not saying that joint supplements are not worth it. On the contrary, they can make all the difference. You just need to research the ingredients used and choose a quality formula. 

Second, it’s important to consider the cause of your pain. 

Certain disorders, such as gout, lupus, or osteoarthritis, are chronic and therefore, they cannot be cured. Regardless of the products used, you may still have flare-ups every now and then. 

Most injuries, on the other hand, respond well to dietary supplements. If, say, you have tennis elbow or tendonitis, these products may help accelerate healing and relieve joint pain. 

But what’s the best joint supplement out there? As you know, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. The only thing you can do is to research your options, try different products, and see how your body reacts. 

Now let’s take a look at the most popular joint supplements on the market and the science behind them!

Omega-3s Reduce Joint Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids, in general, promote cardiovascular health, reduce cholesterol levels, and may prevent inflammation. These dietary supplements may also benefit your bones your joints. 

A 2017 review analyzed several clinical trials assessing the role of omega-3 fatty acids in rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis and lupus. In most studies, subjects reported significant improvements in disease activity and needed fewer medications for pain relief. 

For example, a 12-week study cited in the above review has found that omega-3s reduced morning stiffness, joint pain, and tenderness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects also experienced improvements in physical function and decreased analgesic drug use by 72%. 

Other studies indicate that fish oil may reduce oxidative stress and swelling, leading to pain relief. Researchers attribute these effects to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

UPMC, a global leader in healthcare, reports that taking just 1 to 3 grams of fish oil per day can reduce joint inflammation, stiffness, tenderness, and other related symptoms. More than 13 studies involving over 500 people confirm the beneficial effects of omega-3s on joint pain. 

Again, it’s important to choose a trusted brand. Vintage Balance™ by Old School Labs delivers optimal doses of Omega-3, 6 and 9 for a healthier heart and stronger joints. Our formula is made with pure fish oil and contains no additives, preservatives, or artificial substances. 

Each serving provides just the right amount of EPA, DHA, and ALA, as well as 60% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. We’ve also added gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid with powerful anti-inflammatory effects. 

Fight Joint Swelling and Tenderness with Curcumin 

If you know a thing or two about healthy eating, you’ve probably heard about turmeric. This spice is rich in curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory agent that may help relieve joint pain. 

Research published in Food and Chemical Toxicology highlights the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and anti-cancer activities of curcumin. This polyphenol may help reduce swelling and scavenge free radicals, making it easier to manage arthritis, diabetes, and other illnesses. 

Curcumin might work just as well as or even better than diclofenac sodium, suggests a 2012 study in Phytotherapy Research. 

Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers who took curcumin experienced a greater reduction in joint swelling and tenderness than those taking the drug. Additionally, curcumin treatment was safe and had no side effects. 

Diclofenac, on the other hand, may cause bloating, severe stomach pain, digestive distress, tiredness, bleeding, nausea, and other adverse reactions. 

Vintage Bend™, our joint and bone health formula, contains curcumin along with other natural compounds that fight pain and inflammation. Like all of our products, it’s produced in an FDA-approved facility and has no chemicals or GMOs. 

Our joint support formula appeals to athletes and active individuals. As you get stronger and start lifting heavier weights, you may experience joints pain, and discomfort. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to more serious problems later down the road. 

Vintage Bend™ helps reduce short-term inflammation while strengthening your bones. In addition to curcumin, it contains vitamin K, vitamin D3, calcium, magnesium, glucosamine HCI, and other therapeutic agents. 

Piperine, one of its key ingredients, increases curcumin bioavailability by up to 2,000% so that you can fully reap the benefits. 

Glucosamine and Chondroitin May Relieve Joint Pain

Both glucosamine and chondroitin are naturally occurring compounds found in the connective tissues that cushion your joints. These substances are also available in supplement form and may help reduce inflammation while maintaining cartilage structure. 

A long-term study featured in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy compared the effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, celecoxib, and a placebo. Glucosamine and chondroitin reduced moderate-to-severe pain to a greater extent than placebo. 

Another major study indicates that glucosamine and chondroitin are just as effective as celecoxib at reducing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, and functional limitation in people with knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, these supplements have an excellent safety profile. 

Not all studies confirm these findings. Again, it’s important to be realistic and understand that different people may respond differently to the same supplements or medications. 

No product works for everyone, but there’s a good chance that glucosamine and chondroitin will work for you. 

Struggling with Muscle and Joint Pain? MSM May Help! 

Methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, is commonly used for arthritis pain. Depending on your needs, you can take it alone or combine it with glucosamine and/or chondroitin. 

This dietary supplement may help relieve joint pain and inflammation from:

• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Tenosynovitis

In a clinical trial conducted on patients with osteoarthritis, those who took MSM reported greater pain relief compared to placebo. They also experienced significant improvements in physical function without major side effects. 

This compound may also help with both muscle and joint pain, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 

Researchers evaluated the efficacy of MSM versus placebo on half-marathon runners. Subjects experienced increased pain immediately after the event. Those who took 3 grams of MSM per day for three weeks reported significant muscle and joint pain relief compared to placebo. 

Although further research is needed, most studies confirm the pain-reducing effects of MSM. 

Like joint supplements on our list, this substance is safe and has few or no side effects. Some clinical trials used doses as high as 2,600 milligrams per day without any adverse reactions.

Make Sure You Cover the Basics When It Comes to Bone Health

We’ve talked about glucosamine, MSM, curcumin, and other joint supplements, but it’s still important to mention calcium, vitamin D, zinc, and magnesium. 

These micronutrients are crucial for bone and joint health. Your daily meals should cover your nutritional needs and align with your health goals. 

Generally, it’s necessary to take a whole-body approach to treat joint pain. Depending on its cause, you may benefit from eating anti-inflammatory foods, eliminating lactose or gluten, and ditching the sugar. 

Calcium and vitamin D supplements can help too, especially if you’re not getting enough of these nutrients from food. Vintage Bend™ contains not only the right dose of vitamins and minerals for bone health, but also numerous natural compounds that strengthen your joints, like Glucosamine & Turmeric extract so that they can keep up with the demands of exercise.

What’s the best joint supplement in your opinion? Which have you tried so far? Let us know in the comment section below!