Great Dunmow Osteopathic Clinic

Why do my joints ache?

Thursday, October 22, 2009

There are a number of reasons why your joints ache:

After long runs the overuse strain and impacts to the feet ankles, Knees , Hips and back create microtissue trauma and the body reacts to this through its natural healing response of inflammation.

What is Inflammation? Essentially it s the bodies self contained repair kit and like most hardcore runners is a little too over enthusiastic. Inflammation carries many mediators of healing and other chemicals that are associated with inflammatory response one of these are the prostaglandidns which are associated with the mast cell story but you will be more familiar with the effects the prostagladins have on your pain sensitive nerve fibres - that is the pain!!!
Also the mechanical effects of the fluid which is what inflammation is (remember how swollen your feet were after the marathon). The relevant point is that if this fluid is allowed to sit in and around the joints it tend to congeal and form fibrous tissue that can go on to form tissue called plica ( a common cause of functional knee problems). The fluid sits in and round all the tissues of the joints and create a space occupying lesion and the joints feel tight (like putting high pressure water into a rubber car inner tube eventually it goes rigid, ever twisted or damaged ligaments did it swell or did it swell!!)

Dehydration. Your Hyaline cartilage (leg of lamb for Sunday Roast the smoothness of ballpart of the hip joint that is hyaline cartilage, beautifully smooth and hydrated). Imagine a sponge, brand new plenty of capacity to absorb and retain water, what happens with the sponge in time it gets pulled about bit fall off and it loses it capacity to hold on to water. By running you speed this process up, however you can manage this process with a little knowledge. This is not an excuse to stop exercising either if you are a runner I am sorry to tell you if you stop the process speeds up even faster and the degeneration of your joints will be quicker, this is for a number of reasons but the two main ones being if you are fit and have a high basal metabolic rate your tissues are richly supplied with lots of well oxygenated and nourishing proteins, sugars etc. etc .If this blood supply is then all of a sudden drastically reduces the tissues will soon become redundant. The body is ruthless with tissues energy conservation like a local government department that doesn't spend its budget one year if it doesn't spend it the money the budget is cut. The body is exactly the same if not more ruthless.

If you stop exercising all those tight sinewy muscles that you have built up around the joint to stabilse and support it will waste and you will end up with big bones small muscles and consequently unstable joints. To prevent this keep fit and mobile, ensure you drink plenty of water and take plenty of vitamin C, you can also supplement your diet with Glucoseamine and chondroitn sulphate in the form of cortaflex a drinkable fluid.

If you want more information about anything in this news letter please contact Angus Hellier at Great Dunmow Osteopathic Clinic on 01371 875217 or send us an e-mail via the contact form.