In a lengthy letter, a reader from a neighboring country describes his postoperative condition as good after knee arthroscopy and partial removal of the damaged meniscus, as well as detection of cartilage softening in certain parts of the joint, and asks:

What are the BEST glucosamine sulfate tablets (because looking online, there are various combinations…) or something else?
Is there a specific food or drink to speed up/improve the current situation? Are there any plants, is it true that calendula ointment and comfrey plant help? Injections?

Unfortunately, no active ingredient taken in tablet form or applied as a cream or compress has proven its effectiveness in terms of visible cartilage regeneration. Rare studies suggest possible reduction in pain and swelling with the intake of certain dietary supplements, but even then, not in all patients. Injections containing hyaluronic acid can be used, emphasizing that we also call them viscosupplementation.
Literally translated, this is “oil for lubrication,” which has no effect on cartilage regeneration. The approach we recommend for patients with early knee arthrosis is initially strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee. This is followed by long-term regular physical activity through a comprehensive program of strength, aerobic exercise, and proprioception with three main goals: -further strengthening of muscles -improvement of cartilage metabolism through aerobic exercise -stimulation of cartilage adaptation (as much as possible) through gradual increase in training load and proprioception.

We can say that this is not treatment in the strict sense of the word, but rather more of a prevention strategy aimed at slowing down degenerative processes and preserving full knee function. Our experience shows that this is achievable in most of our patients with early knee osteoarthritis. However, persistence is the most important factor, along with guidance from an experienced physiotherapist.