Joint Fatigue

Question
I seem to have a bit of pesky joint fatigue in this right knee. I'd
like to run a lot more, but this gets in the way of it.

Questions:

1. How long does something like this usually take to clear up?

2. What can I do to speed up the process?

3. Does glucosamine chondroiton *really* do all they say it does?

Also: I have very tight hamstrings.

4. What type of therapy do they usually recommend for that?

Lastly:

5. I'm thinking about visiting a physical therapy center. BUT BEFORE I SPEND THAT MONEY: Is there anything that I could really expect them to do for tight hamstrings? I
mean, is that something that people see so often that they would say "Oh, we've seen this a thousand times before. We know where to go from
here."

Thanks for your feedback

Answer
Dear Lemas,

You cannot determine the extent, or the cause, of your joint pain without a medical evaluation. I would suggest you get a check-up from a sport-related physician who works with runners. He or she will be able to give you a diagnosis and refer you to the appropriate physical therapist who can further help.

Again, go to a sports-related physical therapit who deals with runners. He or she can demonstrate correct stretching for inflexible hamstrings and rehab your knee condition (in reference to the physician's diagnosis).

It is impossible, and unprofessional, for me to try to give you recommendations for a medical condition (the knee).

For inflexible hamstrings you may try reserching additional stretching exercises in a book, or on the internet, on stretching. It is too lengthy to try and explain proper stretching here.

The results for chondroiten sulfate and glucosamine are still pending. Since they are supplements, they are unregulated so be careful to buy them from reputable sources (since there are no guarantees as to their composition). It is alledged that their effects are on rebuilding cartiledge so you need to find out if you have cartiledge problems in your knee.

I hope I have been of some assistance.

Dr. Christopher Rampacek