Knee injuries may be a result of an acute trauma to the knee. The severity of knee pain as well as the treatment will depend on the cause of the problem. Knee pain may involve redness, swelling, stiffness, weakness and an inability to straighten your leg, known as popping. Glucosamine is an over-the-counter dietary supplement that is marketed for its ability to reduce knee pain.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is formed naturally in your body. It is thought to help in the formation and repair of connective tissue such as cartilage. In addition to promoting tissue repair, glucosamine supplements may reduce inflammation and related pain in knee injuries.
Knee Joint
Your knees are among the most important joints in your body. Your knees support the most load of any of your joints. In fact, they can hold up to five times your body weight when you are in motion. Over the course of your lifetime, this results in wear and tear and eventual breakdown. The greatest breakdown occurs in athletes. Proponents of glucosamine claim it is able to slow this breakdown and minimize joint damage due to injury.
Acute Knee Injury
Glucosamine supplementation results in significant improvement in knee flexion and extension in athletes with acute knee injury when compared to placebo. A study published in the April 2007 issue of "Research in Sports Medicine" used a randomized double blind trial of glucosamine versus a placebo in 106 male athletes over 28 days. The athletes' pain and functional ability were evaluated at the beginning of the study and every seven days until 28 days after they started treatment. While mean pain intensity scores did not differ, 1,500 mg of glucosamine per day significantly improved flexion and extension compared to the placebo.
Caution
Glucosamine supplements are generally well tolerated for up to 90 days. Side effects may include upset stomach, drowsiness, insomnia, headache, skin reactions and sun sensitivity. In addition, glucosamine supplements are made using shells of shrimp, crab and other shellfish and therefore may not be appropriate if you have a shellfish allergy. As with starting any new treatment, consult your doctor.
