An experiment

[.V.]

Originally Posted by Maxgain

iM sorry but thats wrong. Gooseneck is right its a long term benefit on top of the anti-inflammatory actions it shows.

Ok, good. even better then. Glad to learn that I was misinformed. All that really interested me though was the anti-inflammatory benefit without damaging my kindeys or liver.


Still, any extra benefit something can give...I'm all for it.

[westside24]

Carlon colker says in his book, chromium and glucosamine combined will potentilly repair joints.

Well today is the 18th day of my experiment and the jury is still out. I did not take this supplement for the last 3 days but I will resume today.
I spoke to a massage therapist at a gym I frequent who said that his knees got "puffy" when he took glucosamine/chondroitin. Mine have been puffy but that is because I am recovering from some overuse issues.
I'll report back in 7-10 days.

Today is the 28th day of my "experiment". I purchased a 60 day supply of glucosamine/chondroitin on May 9th but have not taken it daily. I seem to miss the weekends. The jury is still out. I took some over-the-counter Alleve a couple of days this week and there is no substitute for this product when needed.

My worst discomfort this week was after a 1-mile timed trial run on the treadmill. While I was satisfied with my time of 6:28, the activity definitely aggravated my left knee. An earlier in the week clean & jerk workout of 30 singles with a light load also left me a little sore but not bad in the big scheme of things. I'm going to the dojo tomorrow for a karate workout which aggravated my knee the last time I trained. It has been 3 weeks since I last trained.

This week I started a rehab superset using machines of 1-leg leg extensions, 1-leg leg curls, and adductor/abductor work, followed by ATG front squats with a very light load (45 lbs.) as part of my warmup and this seemed to help. I'll incorporate the same movements using dynamic visualized resistance too.

I have been wearing a set of Tommy Kono knee bands which I received as a gift from Mr. Kono. While I have not been a big accessory guy in the past, I really like them and will continue to use them.

Hard to tell if I will continue taking this supplement once the 60-day quantity ends. I'll provide another update in 7-10 days.

It has been a while since I've given an update.

I am still taking the glucosamine/chondroitin supplement although I am well past the 60 day evaluation period. I haven't been taking it every day as I generally skip the weekends out of forgetfulness.

My left knee is feeling better (right knee has always been fine) but it is hard to tell how much of that is due to the supplement versus other factors.

I have reduced my running significantly and also my martial arts training and I'm sure this has been a contributing factor. I ran a timed 1-mile trial on the treadmill the other day and was expecting my knees to bother me the next day but they did not.

I am also spending time as part of my warmup doing what I call a knee PT (physical theraphy) warmup medley using exercise machines. I use a very light weight perform high reps (about 15) of 1-leg leg extensions, 1-leg leg curls, and the abductor/adductor machine. I believe this medley has helped by working the stabilizing muscles that may not have been getting enough work with my primary leg work.

I am doing full ATG back and front squats, low reps and challenging weight for me. And I continue on with my Olympic lift training but wear a pair of Tommy Kono knee bands that Mr. Kono gave me as a gift. The knee bands helps tremendously.

I'm guessing the glucosamine/chondroitin is helping and I will continue on until the bottle is empty then make a "business decision" where I go from there.

I would like to start running more and get to the dojo more often and I am hoping that I'll get the green light to do that soon.

The good news is that the rest of my body generally feels great, although my wrists hurt the other day when I was doing a handstand hold followed by some split overhead jerks. I can't have it all!

The experiment is done and here is my writeup:

http://pierini-fitness.blogspot.com/...t-is-done.html

If you were me, would you continue taking this supplement?

Thanks in advance.

[.V.]

Time for experiment phase 2. Go the same time doing the same activities WITHOUT the glucosamine. If they still don't hurt then you don't need it. If they start...you need it.

Isn't experimenting fun?

Enjoy.