Are you going to play sport? Watch your joints

Practicing physical activity has many benefits for the body, as it improves cardiopulmonary and muscular conditioning, reducing the risk of heart and metabolic diseases, as well as increasing disposition and reducing emotional stress. However, regardless of the modality chosen, medical supervision and care are needed to carry out regular physical activity and avoid joint, muscle and other injuries, which can turn this healthy habit into a major problem.

 "Physical activities require the body to be prepared and capable, depending on the discipline chosen. Running, for example, increases the impact on the joints, especially the knees, ankles and hips, which receive a greater overload when compared to a normal day-to-day activity," explains Márcio de Castro Ferreira, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in knee surgery at HCor-SP.
The joints are lined with a thin layer of protection called cartilage. This structure serves both to absorb impact and to minimize friction when the bones move. As the cartilage is constantly overloaded, damage occurs to the cells that produce its balance, resulting in imbalance and degradation of the cartilage.

 "This type of lesion starts at microscopic stages, which are not detected on X-rays. In this way, the body suffers over time and by the time symptoms appear, deterioration has already occurred. That's why cartilage prevention is the best course of action," says Márcio Ferreira.

To help prevent damage to the joints, it is recommended that you consult a doctor to identify the possible causes that could contribute to joint overload, as well as using supplements that help protect the cartilage that is commonly worn down by normal human ageing and also enhanced by physical activity, especially impact activities. In these situations, the most suitable supplement is collagen peptide, as the HCor specialist explains.

 "The collagen peptide offers sportspeople two important solutions: help with prevention, increasing the longevity of the joint in people who don't have an injury and/or in people who already have an injury, improving their quality of life. The second contribution is to help improve symptoms both in people with joint injuries and in those who practice physical activity, without osteoarticular disease, who feel pain when practicing it," explains Márcio Ferreira.

Practicing physical activity is very important, but it is essential to do it correctly and safely for the health of your body and joints. Therefore, before starting an active physical activity routine, it is essential to seek medical advice.

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