Joint Health & Why It Matters
To maintain the health of a joint, the joint must move. They were designed to move regularly & to their full anatomical range of motion. Joints were designed to move, some more than others, some stable, some with more capacity for motion, but all must be moved in their designed way, in order to maintain the health of said joint. When I say joints were designed to move, I mean down to the cellular level. Force is the language of this environment of the joint. Synovial fluid is the viscous, egg-white–like fluid found inside synovial joints (knees, hips, shoulders, spine facet joints, etc.).Healthy joints have an extraordinarily low coefficient of friction — lower than ice on ice.
Synovial fluid creates:
Boundary lubrication (coating surfaces)
Even distribution of pressure between surfaces
Without adequate synovial fluid:
Cartilage dries
Friction increases
Degeneration accelerates
This is the part most people don’t understand.
Articular cartilage has:
❌ No blood vessels
❌ No direct nerve supply
It relies entirely on synovial fluid diffusion for:
Oxygen
Glucose
Electrolyte exchange
Waste removal
If fluid doesn’t circulate → cartilage starves.
Motion is life.
With prolonged immobility:
Synovial fluid thickens
Circulation decreases
Cartilage becomes undernourished
Stiffness increases
Degenerative changes accelerate
This is why:
Morning stiffness improves with motion
Bed rest worsens joint pain
Sedentary lifestyles age joints prematurely
Repetitive and low force is best. Consistency is the most important thing.
When I evaluate a joint, I’m not just looking at:
Alignment
Ligament tension
Muscle tone
I’m also assessing:
Quality of motion
Fluid dynamics
Capsular mobility
Restricted joints don’t circulate fluid properly.
Manual therapy helps by:
Restoring capsular glide
Improving mechanical motion
Enhancing synovial exchange
But long-term joint health always depends on the patient moving well.
In Summary,
Synovial fluid:
Lubricates
Feeds cartilage
Removes waste
Absorbs shock
Movement:
Pumps the fluid
Stimulates production
Maintains viscosity
Preserves cartilage integrity
No motion → no nutrition → degeneration.
If you want to do your body a favor and begin the journey of taking care of yourself, book a visit today.
