Our joints are central to the way our bodies move, so they deserve care and attention every day. The demands of daily life, however, often place them under strain and, over time, may lead to persistent pain and wear of the articular cartilage. Gruelling training and the physical loads experienced by athletes also directly affect the strength of their joints and bones. Athletes are prone to faster wear of the joints and tendons, making timely care and prevention especially important in protecting against joint problems. If you are physically active, this article is for you.
We spoke to Dr Violeta Ikonomova about potential joint problems, prevention and the care our joints need to avoid injury and overuse. Dr Ikonomova is Head of the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at Acibadem City Clinic Tokuda Hospital and has completed several specialist training programmes at Tokushukai Medical Corporation hospitals in Japan.
Dr Ikonomova, why are athletes prone to joint problems?
With the excessive loading typical of athletes, the cartilage covering the joint surfaces wears away. It can no longer function fully or act as a shock absorber, and over time it develops fissures that lead to changes in the subchondral bone. Osteophytes form, resulting in joint deformity. Professional athletes commonly develop early osteoarthritis or bone spurs as a result of prolonged overloading.
Athletes also frequently sustain trauma that may cause various joint injuries, inflammation and pain. Whatever the specific cause of joint discomfort, several common features are observed: poor lubrication, pain on movement, increased levels of prostaglandins involved in inflammation and pain, and thinning of the articular cartilage. Articular cartilage contains no blood vessels to supply it with nutrients and is nourished by the synovial fluid within the joint capsule. Over time, the fluid’s lubricating role diminishes and the cartilage begins to deteriorate.
Following a few simple rules can help prevent injury and overuse:
– Warm up properly before training, exercise in moderation and follow an appropriate training schedule, without making sessions excessively long or frequent.
– Allow the body enough time to rest so that the joints, tendons and muscles can recover adequately after strenuous training.
– Adequate nutrient intake is also important for supporting the body’s normal function.
What are the most common joint conditions among athletes?
Osteoarthritis is among the most common joint conditions in athletes. Constant overloading causes the cartilage covering the joint surfaces to wear, stretch and thin. When the cartilage becomes completely worn and thinned, parts of the joint surfaces may become exposed, resulting in direct friction between the bones that form the joint.
Arthritis is another group of joint conditions that mainly affects former athletes. The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is characterised by deterioration of the cartilage at the ends of the bones. It becomes rough, causing increasing friction and pain. If left untreated and unmanaged, it can be extremely debilitating for athletes undergoing strenuous training.
Sports can also cause a range of injuries, including dislocations, sprains and overstretching, as well as fractures that lead to stretching or tearing of tendons and joint capsules, or broken bones. A torn meniscus with damage to the cartilage of the knee joint is another common sports injury. Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon caused by the repetitive movements typical of certain sports or by a sudden injury.
Why is prevention important?
The term ‘prevention’ comes from Latin and refers to protection, avoiding negative factors and taking action in advance. Athletes are prone to faster wear of the joints and tendons. At the first signs of discomfort or overuse from sport, chondroprotective products, most commonly in the form of food supplements, may be taken to support the recovery of articular cartilage. Whether or not a person is an athlete, after the age of 35–40 it may be beneficial to take periodic courses of food supplements containing the main nutrients for articular cartilage.
How can athletes return to sport more quickly?
How do we choose an effective product? What ratio and precise combination of ingredients are needed to achieve the best possible results?
Alongside the particularly important glucosamine and chondroitin, another key ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the body and is a major component of synovial fluid. It may significantly improve conditions associated with sports injuries and wear of the articular cartilage. Hyaluronic acid acts as a joint lubricant, reduces inflammation and promotes healing. This may reduce pain and improve range of motion, helping athletes resume physical activity. It is important to understand that not all forms of hyaluronic acid are the same or readily absorbed by the body. Scientists have therefore developed a special low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid with several times greater bioavailability than conventional forms.
It should also be noted that hyaluronic acid and an inflamed area of a joint have an antagonistic relationship, as inflammation breaks down hyaluronic acid and reduces the cells’ capacity to produce it. A product is therefore needed that helps prevent inflammation while relieving pain and discomfort. Hyaluronic acid alone, however, is not sufficient to provide a lasting resolution to the problem. A comprehensive, well-balanced formula containing the most important components is needed to provide full support and nourishment for the joints and tendons.
For this reason, I recommend Aboflex Gold to my patients. It is the result of an exceptional scientific achievement and meets all the requirements of a high-quality product with very good action and a rapidly noticeable effect. Aboflex Gold is distinguished by its ability to act in depth with the aim of providing a lasting response to the cause of joint discomfort. It helps build, strengthen and restore articular cartilage and supports healthy bone structure. It nourishes the tendons and facilitates movement. Aboflex Gold improves the viscosity of synovial fluid and joint lubrication, reduces joint pain and swelling, and strengthens articular cartilage in areas under strain.
Aboflex Gold is particularly suitable for people exposed to heavy physical loads and those who exercise actively, as well as people who have undergone joint surgery. It is also an excellent choice for older people, as cartilage wears with age and synovial fluid changes and loses its elastic properties. The joints become vulnerable, ultimately resulting in restricted mobility and reduced stability.
The synergistic effect of the ingredients:
Aboflex Gold contains glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, manganese and vitamin C, as well as ketosterones from Cissus quadrangularis L., which help maintain the normal condition of the joints, bones and tendons. Each ingredient plays an important role in the overall support and strengthening of the joints.
Glucosamine sulphate is a natural component of connective tissue and has a structural supporting role in the body. It is also used in the production of synovial fluid, which supports joint function by reducing friction.
Chondroitin sulphate can retain water within cartilage in the form of fluid-filled spaces, increasing the strength of connective tissue. It stimulates the synthesis of hyaluronic acid and strengthens connective-tissue structures, including cartilage and tendons. Aboflex Gold uses chondroitin produced from bovine tendons, the high quality of which has been verified under laboratory conditions.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) plays an important role in the formation of keratin, collagen and elastin, which contribute to the normal condition of the muscles, bones, joints, internal membranes and skin. Like glucosamine and chondroitin, it contributes to the normal condition of cartilage.
Hyaluronic acid is an important structural component of articular cartilage and synovial fluid and acts as a lubricant, metabolic mediator and filter. It is a major component of connective tissue and, together with its associated proteins, forms the basis of the extracellular matrix. It is a natural antioxidant that contributes to the normal condition of the joints.
It is no coincidence that Aboflex Gold contains low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (<50 kDa – kilodaltons), as this form is much more readily absorbed by cells. The low molecular weight ensures effective absorption through the digestive tract. In addition to being formulated for oral use, the hyaluronic acid in Aboflex Gold is provided at a very high daily dose – 96 mg. Low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid improves the production of synovial fluid and supports the smooth movement of articular cartilage and joint structures. It relieves joint pain associated with the breakdown of articular cartilage and helps remove unwanted deposits from the joint capsule.
Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, an important structural component of connective tissue, cartilage, skin and tendons.
Manganese is a cofactor for enzymes known as glycosyltransferases. These biological agents are required for the production of glucosamine and chondroitin. Manganese is also a cofactor for prolidase – an enzyme involved in collagen production.
The Aboflex Gold formula is enriched with ketosterones from Cissus quadrangularis. These are natural plant steroids with a powerful anti-inflammatory action that protect and restore muscle and bone tissue. They stimulate type II collagen synthesis and accelerate healing and recovery after injury. Ketosterones from Cissus quadrangularis L. reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, and have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. They increase endurance during physical exertion.
Hydrolysed collagen has also been added to the Aboflex Gold formula, which, as one of the most important proteins produced by the human body, contributes to the maintenance of healthy joints, bones, muscles and tendons. It is involved in building the musculoskeletal system, helps maintain the normal condition and elasticity of ligaments and connective tissue, and supports the overall health of the joints, bones and cartilage.
Hydrolysed collagen is collagen that has been broken down through a process called hydrolysis into smaller collagen peptides that are more readily absorbed by the body.
One of the advantages of Aboflex Gold is its liquid form, which contributes to the product’s excellent bioavailability. It ensures optimal absorption of the nutrients required to maintain joint endurance, mobility, flexibility and elasticity. For optimal results and effective accumulation of the active substances in the body, I recommend taking it for three months, followed by a one-month break, once a year.
