Keeping your joints healthy as you age

When joints start to creak or hurt, it's usually because our cartilage has worn out due to overuse and/or ageing. — TNS

For joints to work well, they need cartilage – a slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones, acts like a shock absorber, and helps joints move smoothly.

Mayo Clinic orthopaedic surgeon Dr Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo says that many people lose cartilage as they age, but it does not mean that joint replacement is inevitable.