Chondroprotectors: what are these drugs, what are they for?
- 21.11.2022
Pain in the joints, inflammation, intervertebral hernias - these are unpleasant conditions that require medical intervention. To restore health and proper functioning of the joints, it is necessary to provide the tissues with proper nutrition. This is where chondroprotectors help.
What are chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectors are medications designed to protect joints. To understand how chondroprotectors work, you need to know how joints work. To keep the components of the joints from rubbing off when they move, their surfaces in contact with each other are covered with a layer of cartilage. Additional gliding is provided by synovial fluid, which is produced inside the synovial membrane during movement. It provides the cartilage with oxygen and nutrients. Chondroprotectors contain components that are essential to the formation of synovial fluid.
Types of chondroprotectors:
- The first generation are concentrates and extracts from products of plant and animal origin, which contain a lot of chondroitin and glucosamine.
- The second generation are preparations of purified chondroitin and glucosamine.
- The third generation is a combination of these two main components. Vitamins, fatty acids and other supplements, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are added to them.
What chondroprotectors are needed for
Such drugs are prescribed when there are the following symptoms:
- Inflammatory process in the joints;
- osteoarthritis of various kinds;
- tendinopathy, periodontal disease, etc;
- arthritis and arthrosis;
- Dislocations, sprains and contusions in the joints;
- Intervertebral hernia.
In addition to therapeutic purposes, chondroprotectors are used to improve the nutrition of joint tissues. Athletes (especially athletes and bodybuilders) use such drugs, because their joints are under increased strain. The condition of ligaments, cartilage, and joints improves by up to 25% - a significant figure. To get high results from chondroprotectors, it is recommended to use them for 4-6 months.
Athletes taking anabolics and steroids need to use chondroprotectors. Because their hormonal background changes, muscle strength and endurance increase dramatically. Accordingly, the load on the joints increases dramatically. They need additional nutrition, which give chondroprotectors.
It is important to consider that chondroprotectors are drugs that act slowly. This is an additional means of therapy for diseases of the joints.
During the treatment of intervertebral hernias, chondroprotectors also serve as "building material" for the repair of connective tissue, which prevents the destruction of the intervertebral disc. The synovial fluid in them provides nutrition to the tissues with chondroitin and glucosamine. The thickness of the cartilage layer remains stable and the discs do not wear out.
Chondroprotectors are not potent drugs. However, their role in the restoration of joints and intervertebral discs is significant. Because they give the necessary nutrition to the tissues, without which it is impossible for them to function properly. The attending physician selects the type of chondroprotector after examining the patient.