Vigour – Health and Sports Nutrition

Patellofemoral Syndrome, also known as Chondromalacia Patella, is a medical condition that is characterized by an abnormal softening of the cartilage of patella. It is quite common among people aged 45 and above, however it can strike at any age. It makes the most common cause of chronic knee pain.

The typical symptoms of chondromalacia patella include swelling of the knee area, tightness in the knee and pain in the inner knee area that is aggravated by running, climbing, descending stairs and prolong sitting. If left untreated, patellofemoral syndrome may weaken the thigh muscle. The people who are at risk for developing this disorder include elderly, runners, sprinters, females, flat-footed individuals, or those with an unusually shaped patella undersurface.

Treatment aims at reducing the inflammation and improving the alignment of the patella. A combination of anti-inflammatory drugs, icing, strengthening of the quadriceps muscle by bicycling or swimming, stretching, and avoiding motions which irritate the kneecap helps patients recover fast and return at full functional level.

Sufferers of patellofemoral syndrome should also use a dietary supplement that helps maintain the health of joints and cartilage. Health Perception Glucosamine High Strength 750mg is a popular brand on the market that contains glucosamine in its formulation. Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is formed in the body from glucose. It helps rebuild the structures such as cartilage, ligaments and tendons. This supplement is free from yeast, sodium salt, artificial preservatives, gluten and lactose. Take one tablet twice a day with meals.

The hamstrings are the tendons at the back of the knee that help bend the knee and extend the hip. Hamstring muscles play an important role in performing power activities such as climbing, walking, running and jumping. Physically active individuals and athletes are prone to the hamstring injuries, which range from a minor strain to a major rupture.

Hamstring injuries occur with jerking pulls on the tissues of hamstring muscle. The typical symptoms include severe pain, tiredness, tenderness, inflammation and a bruised appearance around injured hamstring tissues. The treatment aims at reducing the inflammation, preventing scar formation and restoring muscle function. Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy compression, ice, stretching and rest help control pain and swelling. A surgery is performed to treat the grade III injuries.

Sufferers of hamstring injuries should use a dietary supplement that helps in healing. HealthAid L-Arginine with L-Ornithine 300mg is a popular brand on the market that contains vitamins B6, L-Arginine and L-Ornithine in its formulation. These amino acids play an important role in enhancing collagen synthesis and speeding up repair time and tissue injury. They help produce growth hormones that are required for muscle tissue synthesis, muscular energy, muscle growth and repair. Moreover, they help maintain the liver function, help flush toxins from the body and optimize fat metabolism. Vitamin B6 helps absorb energy from food, boosts immune system and maximises absorption rate of the individual amino acids. Make sure that you take 2 capsules daily after main meal. Do not exceed the recommended dosage.

Bambousa arundinacea is a species of bamboo that is native to China, India, Bengal and Indonesia. Its stem contains organic silica that has been used in the preparation of medicines for thousands of years.

Silica makes an important constituent of your body’s connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments, cartilage and arteries. Research shows that organic silica strengthens bones, teeth, nails, hair and arterial walls. It helps rebuild collagen and elastin connective tissues and relieves the symptoms of numerous skin disorders such as eczema, vitiligo and psoriasis. Researchers believe that silica reduces the inflammation and pain related to rheumatoid arthritis. Silica also helps prevent cardiovascular problems particularly congestive heart failure and arterial disease.

Silica plays an important role in the development and growth of bones. It enhances the function of minerals such as boron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. A silica deficiency often leads to a calcium deficiency which, in turn, results in bone demineralization and osteoporosis.

Consumption of a dietary supplement that makes use of silica in its formulation helps you maintain the health of your joints and cardiovascular system. Arkopharma Arkocaps Bamboo Gum is a popular brand on the market that contains the siliceous concentration of the bamboo stem. It exhibits remineralising properties and stimulates the synthesis of collagen in the bones and connective tissues. It helps in reconstitution of cartilage and helps prevent bone loss during menopause. Arkocaps contains 65% silica and has a beneficial action on the joints. Take one capsule morning, noon and evening during meals.

Hamstring is an important lower-body large muscle group in humans that occupies the posterior of the body of the femur. It refers to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons behind the knees.

Hamstring helps us perform numerous daily activities such as walking, jogging, running, climbing, and jumping. Moreover, it helps control some movement in the trunk as well. As hamstrings act and cross upon two joints (hip and knee), they help extend and flex the hip, and rotate the lower leg. Also, hamstrings play a vital role in characterizing body flexibility and strength.

There are various resistance training exercises that help strengthen and develop hamstrings. Leg Curl exercise is an effective single-muscle exercise that targets hamstrings. However, you can also choose from compound workouts that train posterior thigh muscles along with other large muscle groups of the body.

If you want to maximize the resistance training benefits, then make sure that you use a supplement that contains whey protein in its formulation. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein is a popular brand on the market that helps you get your strength training objectives extremely quickly.

Whey protein isolates make 90% pure protein by weight. They are the purest form of whey protein that help you gain lean muscle mass and improve strength. One serving of supplement provides with 24 grams of muscle-building protein. Another good thing about Optimum Nutrition Gold is that it does not make use of cholesterol, fat, lactose and other artificial stuffs in its formulation.