Interview with Dr. Joseph E. Kutz
Dr. Kutz is a world renowned surgeon and co-founder of the Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center in Louisville, KY. He has specialized in hand and reconstructive microsurgery for over four decades. Every year, he sees a tremendous number of patients, from youths to seniors, suffering from arthritis or symptoms associated with arthritis. Recently, he has been encouraging those patients to try Conquer HAŽ
How did you first learn about HA Concepts’ products?
I first heard of HA Concepts’ products from an infomercial on TV for Conquer HA original softgels several years ago.
What product do you take and how long have you been taking it?
I have been taking Conquer HA for four years now.
How did you determine the effectiveness of Conquer HAŽ?
I determined its effectiveness by how well the product relieved symptoms, increased joint mobility and improved overall hand function.
Why is it better than other supplements like Bioflex and others advertised on TV?
I have always recommended glucosamine/ chondroitin sulfate to patients, but found that this caused some to experience gastric problems. In changing them to Conquer HA original they seemed to maintain the same benefits without the negative side effect of gastric irritation.
What results have you seen in patients who take Conquer HA?
Patients have reported pain relief when taking Conquer HA as directed.
Are there any particular conditions for which HA Concepts’ products are especially beneficial?
Arthritis of the thumb (specifically the CMC joint of the thumb) is a condition for which I find this product very beneficial.
What percentage of patients would you say follow through and take the product recommended to them?
Initially, 100% will start taking the product once it is recommended. Then, out of those that find it effective, I have found 10-20% will stop taking it once they feel better. Approximately 5% report no improvement after taking the supplement so they discontinue its use. Many patients that stop taking the product after finding relief will come back to me to start taking it again because they noticed the difference without it – their pain returned.
Why should everyone over the age of 32 take them?
Osteoarthritis begins developing at birth as soon as we start using our joints. We know that, for some reason, beyond the age of 30 we start seeing more clinical signs of degenerative arthritis in the hands such as increased stiffness. We’ve found that the earlier people start supplements the more their symptoms can be delayed.
How many other types of supplements do you recommend to patients?
I recommend vitamin B6, C and E daily as well as glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate.
Is popping (“cracking”) of the knuckles a habit that can lead to problems later in life? Why?
Popping of the knuckles can lead to early disruption of cartilage. Patients who have increased amounts of fluid that allows them to “pop” their knuckles frequently are the patients who develop arthritis at an earlier age.
What is the worst thing people do in respect to taking care of their hands?
The worst thing that people do is that they don’t take the early symptom of stiffness seriously. They automatically assume that it is arthritis and that there’s nothing they can do about it because their parents and grandparents had it and did nothing to treat it.
What are a few simple things people can do to take better care of their hands?
A few things people can do are:- Use light exercises to maintain normal range of motion
- Avoid trauma as much as possible
- Use gloves when doing heavy work
- Take supplements such as Conquer HA early, as soon as symptoms arise
- If having arthritis symptoms, they should visit their physician to rule out an underlying condition
If there was one thing you could tell people about HA products, what would it be?
The one thing I tell patients about Conquer HA is that it is a supplement that is needed to maintain the proper lubrication level in the joints – it is like WD 40 for the joints.
