Buyer's Guide To
Joint Supplements
What Everyone Needs to Know About Joint Health

Move Free

Rating: D
Company: Schiff

Specs: Lab Report
Site: Schiff Vitamins

What is it?

Move Free is a joint pain medication that claims to reduce the joint pain caused by arthritis, a inflammatory condition that causes the breakdown of the cartilage that protects the joints. It is also the only supplement to be recommended by general practitioners and orthopedic surgeons for the treatment of joint pain. According to a 2006 survey, 90 percent of orthopedic surgeons and doctors preferred the Move Free formula over other brands containing the same ingredients--even including FDA-approved joint medications. It also claims to be scientifically proven to work--a 2004 independent study showed that the ingredients in Move Free helped improve joint comfort by 83 percent after 8 weeks of use, with a 72 percent improvement in physical function.

What ingredients does Move Free contain?

Move Free contains glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid and a proprietary blend of Chinese scullcap, black catechu and maltodextrin.

Do the ingredients in Move Free help improve joint health?

It can--but its effects are limited. According to a 2006 trial funded by the National Institutes of Health, called the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin only helped decrease joint pain caused by moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee--people with lesser forms of the disease saw little to no improvement. Furthermore, scientists say it can take up to two to four months for the effects of glucosamine to become truly effective, which may not be fast enough for people suffering from severe OA. People suffering from arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis did not see any improvements in joint pain from this ingredient. As a joint health supplement, its effects are very limited.

Is Move Free safe?

No. Glucosamine hydrochloride has been shown to lower blood glucose levels, which may increase a person's risk for hypoglycemia. Chinese scullcap can also worsen these effects. Many of these ingredients can also increase the effect of sedatives.

Verdict:

Although this supplement comes highly recommended by orthopedic surgeons, this supplement may only treat a certain type of arthritis. It does not treat generalized joint pain, which it claims to treat.