Although there are no dietary sources of glucosamine, it is now available in capsules and powders with the raw material being derived from the specially processed exoskeleton of shrimp, lobsters and crabs. Glucosamine sulphate has been shown to be exceptionally safe in both animal and human studies. Most of the time, these symptoms can be avoided by taking glucosamine with a meal. Glucosamine helps repair injury because it is responsible for stimulating the manufacture of joint cartilage. What is of great interest to sportspeople is that its presence not only repairs joint tissues, it has been documented through studies to effectively protect joints and reduce the effects of trauma.
Research suggests that certain types of exercises are associated with persistent soreness.
Subjects in the eccentric group complained of muscle soreness, while the concentric group did not. Thus, people on weight training programs that entail lowering weights should be prepared for some muscle soreness and should consider taking glucosamine sulphate. While both tendons and ligaments are types of connective tissue, their construction differs. Ligaments are composed largely of elastin, a stretchable fibrous protein. Tendons are made of collagen and are essentially inflexible.