Supplementing MSM for Joint Health
I am currently training for my first marathon, the Phoenix Rock and Roll marathon this coming weekend, and coming off a foot sprain from a previous race back in October, I have been taking every precaution I can to ensure I am healthy going into this race.
After 6 weeks in a walking boot, I incorporated ice and stretching into low impact workouts for a few weeks aliong with supplementing extra vitamin C, glucosamine and MSM to optimize the resiliancy of my joints. For those of you not familiar with MSM, here is a little info.
MSM is a naturally occurring nutrient that provides the body with essential sulfur and methyl groups that are used in healing and repair processes. MSM is prized by professional and amateur athletes for effective nutritional support of athletic performance and recovery from soft tissue and joint injuries. MSM can safely be taken over the long term with no documented toxicity. As a result, athletes can achieve improved performance, pain relief, and enhanced tissue repair without fear of side effects.
Most sports injuries involve pain, redness, heat, and swelling: the four cardinal signs of inflammation. MSM supplementation can assist the healing process without the side effects typically associated with other products.
Treating an acute injury may be as simple as RICE. This acronym refers to rest, ice, compression, and elevation. For acute injuries, supplementation with MSM may also speed relief from inflammation and promote lasting healing.
After soft-tissue injuries, including the microtears in muscle that occur after typical strength training, connective tissue normally repairs itself. Sulfur is one of the key requirements for connective tissue integrity and repair. MSM provides a rich source of bioavailable sulfur to support connective tissue repair and regeneration.
I certainly won’t credit a successful race to supplementing MSM, but it doesn’t hurt to take every precaution I can to optimize my health before race day on Sunday!
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August 20th, 2008 at 7:25 am
[…] Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements work by providing more of the building blocks required for cartilage production than our bodies are able to produce naturally, thus reducing the amount of cartilage lost as we age and keeping our joints in good condition for longer. […]
August 26th, 2008 at 9:35 am
[…] Another important aspect of training for a marathon is to get plenty of rest. This means getting ample sleep and, if you have any sort of injury or are even just feeling a bit sore, take some time out to give your body a chance to recover. Even just one day off can work wonders. You also need to make sure that you eat nutritious meals to give your body all the energy it needs. […]