A new study of people with joint health issues shows a key enzyme called activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) could be produced within the joint itself. Researchers hope to develop future therapies to stop the production of this enzyme before it can contribute to an unbalanced inflammatory response. Results were published in PLoS Medicine.

New solutions are needed because current options intended to address joint health may be linked to an increase in various unwanted side effects.

But you don’t have to wait for relief—not when you can experience the effects of BioCell Collagen II^®. This is one of the most advanced natural forms of collagen available.

This unique combination of nutrients includes:

• Hydrolyzed collagen type II—the main building block of joint cartilage.
• Chondroitin sulfate—a powerful inflammation-balancing agent and cartilage protector.
• Hyaluronic acid—one of the most essential nutrients needed to provide relief and lubrication for your joints.

So do something about it now and get all-natural relief for your joints, bones and muscles.

A study published in the journal BioMed Central Musculoskeletal Disorders associated eating fruits and vegetables—particularly anything of the Allium genus, which includes garlic, onions and other bulbous vegetables—with a lower incidence of hip osteoarthritis.

The study’s authors examined more than 1,000 female twins, looking for the early signs of osteoarthritis. Using x-rays, they found that women who ate more produce tended to have better joint health.

In studying the effect alliums have on arthritis, the researchers discovered that a compound in garlic called diallyl disulphide appears to prevent cartilage damage caused by certain enzymes in the body.

One of the study’s authors concluded that these findings “may open up the possibility of using diet or dietary supplements in the future treatment [of] osteoarthritis.”

Approximately 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Taking a daily nutritional supplement that includes garlic may improve heart health and help prevent infections and vitamin C deficiency.

Thomas M. Link, the study's senior author, said that while intense exercises have been previously found to create a higher risk for osteoarthritis, "engaging in light exercise and refraining from frequent knee-bending activities may protect against the onset of the disease."

Approximately 27 million Americans who are at least 25-years-old suffer from osteoarthritis, according to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For the investigation, the researchers examined 132 people who were at-risk for knee osteoarthritis along with 33 controls. The participants were designated to one of three groups that included exercise levels that were either sedentary, light or moderate to strenuous. Knee-bending activities were also analyzed.

Overall, the light exercisers had the healthiest knee cartilage compared to the other exercise-level participants. The scientists also found that frequent knee-bending activities, such as lifting heavy objects or walking up stairs, were associated with cartilage damage and higher water content in the knee.

According to the researchers, maintaining a healthy weight and participating in low-impact sports like walking or swimming could help to reduce a person's risk for osteoarthritis.

Nowadays most people are deficient in the “sunshine vitamin.” Here’s why:

• If you’re over 50—your body can’t properly absorb vitamin D from natural sunlight. Plus, your kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active hormone form. By age 60 it’s nearly impossible to process enough vitamin D to protect your health. So even if you’re out in the sun—you’re not getting optimum levels of vitamin D.
• Sunscreen—for years, you’ve been told to lather on the sunscreen and wear a hat before going outside in the daylight, right? Well, the fact is that sunscreen blocks the critical absorption of vitamin D by a whopping 99.9%.
• Indoor living—most Americans spend the daytime indoors. No steady sun exposure means you don’t produce optimum levels of vitamin D.
• Darker skin—the melanin that darkens your skin also makes it more difficult for the sun to penetrate your skin. That means olive- and dark-skinned people are more prone to a vitamin D deficiency. And low levels of vitamin D can also trigger unhealthy blood pressure.
• Eating processed foods—most processed foods contain very little, if any, vitamin D. If your diet isn’t rich in vitamin D foods such as egg yolks, liver, mackerel, sardines and cod liver oil—you may have a high risk for a vitamin D deficiency.
• Seasonal changes—winter months mean less sunlight, no matter where you live. And that could be a serious problem if you’re relying on the sun for vitamin D. You just won’t get enough of this essential nutrient to protect your health.
• Cultural background—women who are required to cover their entire bodies in heavy clothing block out the sun. This significantly reduces vitamin D production.
• Fat restrictions—vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. That means it requires some dietary fat for proper absorption. Folks with liver problems, digestive problems, pancreatic enzyme deficiency or who have undergone gastric bypass surgery or removal of part of the intestines are especially at risk for a vitamin D deficiency. Even strict vegetarians may be vitamin D deficient.

Supplementation may be necessary to increase your levels of vitamin D during the winter months, and possibly all year-round. You can have a physician measure your vitamin D levels so you can base your intake of this nutrient on your individual needs. According to The Vitamin D Council, vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is the most effective form of the nutrient.

Through previous studies, the scientists have found that Zen meditators have the ability to reduce their pain sensitivity. In turn, individuals who suffer from chronic pain, including those with arthritis, cancer or back pain may especially benefit from Zen, according to the researchers.

A total of 13 Zen meditators and 13-non meditators were recruited to participate in the study. Each of the participants was administered a painful heat stimulus, and the investigators used MRI data to measure the perception of pain among all of the subjects.

Overall, the most experienced Zen meditators showed lower pain responses as well as reduced activity in specific areas of the brain that are responsible for emotion, memory and cognition. These individuals also experienced a decreased amount of communication between the part of the brain that senses pain and the prefrontal cortex.

Pierre Rainville, the study's senior author, said that "the result suggest that Zen meditators may have a training-related ability," and added that "such an ability could have widespread and profound implications for pain and emotion regulation and cognitive control."

Restless leg syndrome occurs when an individual is sleeping, and includes symptoms such as numbness, tingling and spasms in the legs.

For this study, researchers enrolled 172 people with the joint and muscle pain disorder who were an average age of 50 years, and compared them to a control group of 63 participants with a median age of 41 years. The team recorded the pain level of each individual, and then tested the amount of pressure they could tolerate on the their arms and legs.

As a result, the investigators discovered that the fibromyalgia patients were 10 times more likely to develop with restless leg syndrome compared to those in the control group. Furthermore, those who suffered from restless leg syndrome experienced constant sleep disruption.

However, sleep problems were worse among individuals with fibromyalgia.

Based on how common this problem is among people with fibromyalgia, the team concluded that physicians should monitor and treat these patients for the sleeping issue.

In 2005, an estimated 5 million people in the U.S. suffered from fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

Constant jumping and landing during sports can cause too much force on the knees, resulting in several injuries. In women's basketball, one of the most common injuries a player can suffer is tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is located towards the middle of the knee and provides the joint with the most stability.

Recently, 14 female basketball players wore equipment and digital cameras on their legs, which recorded all their movements and muscle activity. In order to measure the amount of stress on their knees, the group was asked do a series of basketball drills, including jump-stop movements.

After completing the drills normally, the players then jumped higher and at a steeper angle, resulting in them landing on their toes and bending their knees.

The researchers discovered that the toe-landing technique decreased force on their knee joints by 56 percent. Also, when the girls jumped using this new landing method, they were able to jump one inch higher.

The team concluded that further research is necessary to determine if similar techniques would be able to prevent ACL injuries.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a torn ACL is the most common sports-related injuries for Americans aged 15 to 24 years.

Psoriatic arthritis is a joint condition that affects the fingers or toes and leads to stiffness and pain. Individuals who develop psoriasis, a skin-related disease, could have a higher risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.

In order to better understand how excessive weight gain could contribute to developing this type of arthritis, more than 900 individuals were enrolled in a six-year study. Of the group, 51 percent had been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and 27 percent had psoriasis.

The researchers then screened the body mass index (BMI) of each participant, and found that an unhealthy BMI at age 18 years was a sign of psoriatic arthritis later in life.

The results showed that 20 percent of overweight or obese participants developed psoriatic arthritis by age 45, while 20 percent of healthy-BMI individuals showed signs of joint problems by age 48.

"Patients with psoriasis represent a unique opportunity to identify individuals at very high risk of developing [psoriatic arthritis]," the authors stated. They added that "to determine which patients are at greatest risk, it is essential that risk factors be identified using robust epidemiologic approaches."

Approximately 7.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. And of this population, 2.2 percent suffer from psoriasis, the National Psoriasis Foundation reports.

In an effort to better understand how physical activity may improve joint and muscle pain among adolescents, researchers enrolled 104 individuals aged 11 to 18 years in a one-week trial. Participants wore actigraphs, a device that records each individual's physical activity levels.

The researchers discovered that one study participant exercised for 60 minutes per day, while approximately 23 percent of these individuals were active 30 minutes per day.

The team discovered that the most active adolescents were in less pain, and experienced fewer symptoms including depression and irregular sleep patters. However, the inactive participants slept poorly, and were in more pain and more depressed.

While increasing one's physical activity proved beneficial for young fibromyalgia patients, investigators suggested that further research will be needed to determine the long-term effects of regular exercising.

In addition to increased physical activity, other natural alternatives for fibromyalgia pain relief include acupuncture, therapeutic message and chiropractic treatments, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association.