Illustration by Joshua Seong for Verywell Health
Do You Have Low Synovial Fluid?
Those tests can tell your healthcare provider what’s going on inside your joint(s).
The tests look at:
This tells your healthcare provider whether treatment is needed for abnormal synovial fluid.
Exercising to Improve Synovial Fluid
Joints that are highly movable are called synovial joints.
When these joints are healthy, the bones slide against each other without friction or pain.
Any physical activity is good for your body.
This helps keep your joints healthy and might help lower your joint pain.
Nutritional Supplements That Increase Synovial Fluid
Some nutritional supplements have been shown to increase synovial fluid.
They won’t cure joint conditions, but they might help alleviate your pain.
Always check with your healthcare provider before taking nutritional supplements.
Your pharmacist is also an excellent resource for checking on possible interactions.
The specific treatments may vary depending on your diagnosis.
Viscosupplementation Injections
Viscosupplementationinjections containhyaluronicacid, which is essential for healthy synovial fluid.
It’s called viscosupplementation because hyaluronic acid gives synovial fluid its viscosity (thickness and stickiness).
Inflammation leads to lower amounts of hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid.
It’s considered a regenerative medicine treatment because it helps your body repair damage.
Platelets are blood cells that are essential for healing.
Your provider then injects the fluid into your joint.
They may use an ultrasound to double-check the shot gets the fluid in just the right place.
More studies need to be done to ensure this treatment works as suspected.
Some early studies have suggested PRP treatment is at least as helpful for osteoarthritis as hyaluronic acid injections.
Summary
Synovial fluid helps your joints move easily.
As you age, you’ll have less synovial fluid.
Your joints will not be able to move as well and the parts may rub together.
When this happens, the joints can get damaged and cause you pain.
You might also have less joint fluid if you have a condition like arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.8 ways exercise helps your joints.
