Alex Royal

Horse Joint Structure and the Health Benefits of Glucosamine

Joint stress and joint disease are prevalent conditions with horses for one simple reason: horses’ joints are complex structures that must handle extreme weight loads on a very small surface area.

Everything hinges – literally – on the joints. If it’s not the joints themselves, it’s the bands of tissue or the tendons that provide joint stability and mobility. Joint disease often starts with inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the joint, called the synovial membrane. Without timely intervention, age and work will inevitable thin and degrade the quality of the synovial fluid. When this happens, the joint loses its ability to protect itself against friction, concussion, and the invasion of destructive inflammatory cells. Joint stress and joint disease are prevalent conditions with horses for one simple reason: horses’ joints are complex structures that must handle extreme weight loads on a very small surface area. The result is that these joints are very prone to inflammation, swelling, or the long-term effects of degenerative joint disease – particularly among aging horses and those actively involved in performance competition.

To keep the joints sound and healthy … Because that makes the difference between A long and rewarding career On the one hand, and a short Painful life history on the other…

Dr. John Peters

These factors lead to erosion of articular cartilage and chronic irritation and thickening of the synovial membrane and joint capsule. Left untreated, the problem will progress into osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, the leading cause of lameness and loss of use in horses.

Joints stressed by work or age threatens the vulnerable complex balance between breakdown and repair – when physically stressed an imbalance occurs and the demand. For joint-building nutrients outstrips the natural supply. Leading to progressive deterioration of joint cartilage, bone and soft tissues … Dr. Mark Olsen

For years, many people who ride, own and train horses have chosen one of two approaches to joint disease and lameness. Either they do nothing, accepting the belief that horses “wear down” as they age or are worked hard, or they rely on “quickfix” solution such as costly injections or NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Bute, Banamine). NSAIDSs actually inhibit cartilage metabolism, can cause gastric upset/ulcers with long term use and mask the pain without addressing the underlying problems – allowing the horse to remain active on an injured limb, leading to further break down of the cartilage and exacerbating arthritis. These reactive approaches are often too little too late. Glucosamine and Hyaluronic Acid are nutraceuticals that provide the matrix of all connective tissues, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and synovial fluid. These nutraceuticals are responsible for maintaining a healthy viscosity to the synovial fluid and membrane inside the joint capsule. The synovial fluid works as a cushion and circulatory system taking impurities out and bringing important joint care nutrients into the joint capsule to restore the fragile balance. Glucosamine also works as an anti-inflammatory by neutralizing destructive cells that penetrate into the joint capsule and attack the articular cartilage that causes the onset of degenerating arthritis. By supplying these crucial joint nutrients to your horse you can help inhibit this degenerative process, without any side effects, and stimulate the cartilage synthesis and build and repair healthy joint structures.

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Article Tags: Joint Disease, Synovial Fluid, Joint Capsule

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