p Nutritional supplements can improve painful knees in a number of ways, by: Providing building blocks for the repair of cartilage, ligaments and tendons Stimulating the repair of damaged tissues and the production of cushioning synovial fluid Regulating the enzymes involved in breaking down or building new cartilage Reducing inflammation Reducing pain through analgesic effects.Some supplements, especially plant extracts, contain a wide variety of compounds that each work in different ways to provide more benefits than any single prescribed painkiller ever could. In fact, supplements are set to play an increasing role in treating painful knees as the long-term use of paracetamol is no longer recommended. Paracetamol is not as safe as previously thought and is linked with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. This follows similar findings that long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. /p