Competitive over 30s, what are you taking for joints?

Im a sub elite or elite, depending on who you talk to, who is about 30 and has run 100 plus mile weeks for years. I have no joint pains. How much do you weigh? More weight equals more stress during running.

Unfortunately there is no 'supplement' with any decent evidence supporting its

use for 'joint health' or joint pain related to degenerative changes.

Bone health (density) is a different topic, as are autoimmune disease affect the joints like rheumatoid

arthritis.

The only things that have helped me are the boring stuff like building up mileage gradually

after a hiatus, taking easy days 'easy', supplementing with biking, getting enough rest, etc.

I have some patients that swear by glucosamine/chondroitin but I suspect it's more of a placebo effect.

In the near future there will biologic agents approved for osteoarthritis but I don't think they will be applicable

to the average runner in their 30s-40s

A few years ago I developed an incredibly painful elbow issue (most likely related to using a computer mouse all day while sitting with bad posture). I tried something called cissus, which I had read about in a body-building forum (I was advised that those are where you go to learn about supplements), and I recall that it was surprisingly effective. I eventually went to a doctor, who prescribed an anti-inflammatory, so I didn't stick with the cissus, but it was pretty much the only really effective over-the-counter product that worked. I did get some relief from tumeric. Seems like there is some issue with cissus, but I don't recall what it is. You become attracted to Holstein heifers or bleed from your earlobes...probably neither one of those, but there is some issue.

Cuckoo-Land wrote:

YMMV wrote:

Congratulations, that is exactly where I was 40 years ago. I ran some decent times on the roads, between injuries, before my deteriorating health on a whole-grain based vegetarian diet nearly hospitalized me with IBS, injuries, arthritis, respiratory infections, etc.. Carbs taken in high quantities are a powerful system metabolic stimulant (although I had a typically emaciated veggie runner's skinnyfat musculature). By keeping insulin jacked up all day, and in particular IGF-1, you are revved up and killing workouts while accelerating aging and tumor growth. Fast track indeed.

You are on a straight and narrow road to a predictable end. Enjoy as best you can.

I see you are aging graciously... NOT

Yup. It's sad to see 60-something guy acting like a 20yo impressionable zealot, diet nazi. What works for some doesn't work for others. World is bigger than your life. How long is it gonna take you to get that? BTW, I'm for balanced diet, possibly organic, nothing crazy.

Dude ... DEFINITELY take some glucosamine + MSM. Osteobi-flex extra strength works best

I do big mileage and I find that when I forget to take the supplements, I get knee pain.

Yesterday I had some knee pain acting up - I ate well, took 4 caplets of MSM, got plenty or rest... today I was able to do intervals at sub 5 pace with no pain whatsoever.

That glucosamine + MSM is really essential

Agree -Glucosamine Condroitan w MSM. Osteo Biflex preferred brand. Need to take daily & allow for buildup. Am 63 & still out there.

Totally second that, Vegan-type low fat whole food diet is absolutely crucial in my personal experience... works great for me and has done so for 7 years, I'm 49 and barely slowed down at all through my 40s. (not that i'm fast by letsrun standards). Also makes keeping yourself near your ideal weight way easier.

Keeps inflammation to a minimum, which helps with everything.

I have many running friends my age who eat typical american type athlete diets with plenty of meat, dairy, sugar, etc, and seem to perform fine on that.. but I could not get away with it myself.

Also, I have (recently) found that being very rigorous with stretching daily is extremely helpful!

YMMV wrote:

"Blue zones" is based on poor epidemiological statistics and doesn't even reach the hypothesis level of inquiry. More Dietary Disney from the vegan/veggie mafia. Keep slurping the Kool-Aid, there is plenty of it, and it is pro-inflammatory and endotoxic.

Meanwhile omnivorous/carnivorous people have been healthy and strong on low-carb for 1.7 million years, ever since our ancestors started pursuing game and enlarging their brains. Of course there are always going to be those that have difficulty keeping up in that department. You can lead a veggie to real food but you can't make them eat, much less think clearly in their perpetually brain fogged state.

0/10 ?

Luther Poach wrote:

A few years ago I developed an incredibly painful elbow issue (most likely related to using a computer mouse all day while sitting with bad posture). I tried something called cissus, which I had read about in a body-building forum (I was advised that those are where you go to learn about supplements), and I recall that it was surprisingly effective. I eventually went to a doctor, who prescribed an anti-inflammatory, so I didn't stick with the cissus, but it was pretty much the only really effective over-the-counter product that worked. I did get some relief from tumeric. Seems like there is some issue with cissus, but I don't recall what it is. You become attracted to Holstein heifers or bleed from your earlobes...probably neither one of those, but there is some issue.

Yes Cissus was recommended to me as well.

Northern lights but its recreational.

This Is Ridiculous wrote:

YMMV wrote:

"Blue zones" is based on poor epidemiological statistics and doesn't even reach the hypothesis level of inquiry. More Dietary Disney from the vegan/veggie mafia. Keep slurping the Kool-Aid, there is plenty of it, and it is pro-inflammatory and endotoxic.

Meanwhile omnivorous/carnivorous people have been healthy and strong on low-carb for 1.7 million years, ever since our ancestors started pursuing game and enlarging their brains. Of course there are always going to be those that have difficulty keeping up in that department. You can lead a veggie to real food but you can't make them eat, much less think clearly in their perpetually brain fogged state.

0/10 ?

I agree, well worth repeating ;) Keep re-posting as you wish.

Nothing for joints specifically. I have always stretched after running. I also run by feel, so when I'm feeling worn out I take a day off and don't stress about it. Not sure if these things are related to my joints, but I've been fortunate to never have any issues. age 38, mileage ranging between 40 and 70 depending on the time of the year.

I'm 57. My doctorate degree is in Neurophysiology. I don't have any deteriorating health problems or any health problems. I am not skinnyfat. I have too much muscle to be fast. My last marathon was 2:59:34. I was a wrestler in college (undergrad) and have always loved lifting weights and I still do, a lot. I had a six pack in my youth, but lost it in my 40's. I have it back.

You are an idiot who's "knowledge" (such as it is) comes from the internet and specifically your searches for confirmation bias.

If you tell me your real name I promise to send flowers for your funeral as you will die long before me.

YMMV wrote:

"Blue zones" is based on poor epidemiological statistics and doesn't even reach the hypothesis level of inquiry. More Dietary Disney from the vegan/veggie mafia. Keep slurping the Kool-Aid, there is plenty of it, and it is pro-inflammatory and endotoxic.

Meanwhile omnivorous/carnivorous people have been healthy and strong on low-carb for 1.7 million years, ever since our ancestors started pursuing game and enlarging their brains. Of course there are always going to be those that have difficulty keeping up in that department. You can lead a veggie to real food but you can't make them eat, much less think clearly in their perpetually brain fogged state.

Cheesy post YMCA. Plant-based whole food diets (organic) are far better for improving the immune system and reducing age-related diseases. There's strong evidence that a plant-based diet significantly reduces the risk of cancer. Don't be a chump and pay attention to the science on plant-based nutrition:

I'm sure you'll outlive me just like OG vegan Nathan "Longevity" Pritikin, whose body was so wracked with various cancers that he put a gun to his head at 69.

You probably resemble him and his many emaciated acolytes. Greger could be his little evil skinnyfat twin. Barnard is about to dry up and blow away in the next gust of wind.

Let's take a look at the "healthiest of the healthy" shall we?

A guy the fake one wrote:

Masterblaster13 wrote:

42 and no joint pain yet. I eat and drink pretty normal foods nothing special.

I'm the same weight I was when I was 22 so I think that helps.

I'm convinced the weight thing is huge. It's so easy to gain an extra pound or two every year without even noticing it.

They say that every extra pound of body weight puts an extra 4-5 pounds of pressure on your knees. Multiply that out over a 5 mile run, and that's A LOT of unneeded pressure on the joints.

50- same exact weight these past 25 years. No joint pain. Run daily race regularly. Lower quality mileage and a little more stretching. I take nothing. Wait that's not true- I try to take a saw palmetto capsule every day. I use to take a multi-vitamin but haven't these past 5 years or so. I do also do body-weight exercises 5 days a week maybe on a good week.

I can't imagine having any real aches, pains, inflammation, arthritis before age 70, but who knows. I do eat a healthy diet for the most part, that helps- lots of fish and spinach, beets, and egg whites. Best estimate is about 62,000 miles of running my now middle aged legs!

I've been running and racing since the 1970's. Three years ago I went on a plant based diet. Within 3 days of starting the plant based diet all joint pain and muscle soreness disappeared.

Not sure about you. But would you rather look like Dr. Tim Noakes or Dr. Joel Fuhrman? Just take recent pictures of them and ask your friends and family members which one looks younger and healthier.

Turmeric daily and two Aleve on flare ups. Aleve really knocks it out.

My turmeric usage kinda overlapped with getting laid off from job. Long story short, had no control over when/if I would get laid off - just knew it would happen at some point for three years (!) no matter how well I worked. I believe my knee flared up from this stress in that my body could never recover since I was always in fight or flight mode in my head.

Get laid off, stress mostly gone, take turmeric, year-long chronic-to-acute pain in knees? Gone.