As I understand nerves, ligaments and tendons are the slowest healing parts of the body.  Having weight lifted for years I can assure you joint supports are important for the weak spots to prevent damage.  At the age of 59 in 2009 dead lifting 500 lbs I tore both bicep tendons, as my muscles were growing faster than my tendons. (Yes I have pics doing it also).  The Andrews Sports Institute in Gulf Breeze, Fla that operates on Alabama, Auburn and the Washington Redskins football teams had no answer after 3 years. There only comment was it was not torn bad enough to tell where to operate. Simply minded medical solution !
 
 I was down to one arm and could lift hardly anything with the left one. If I slept and straighten my arm out it was painful enough to awaken me. I wore Cho-pat knee straps on the bicep to do yard work. 
 
Then a smart friend recommended Vitalzym Systemic Enzymes, used as a pain killer in Europe. The 360 bee wax coated pills are available on Amazon. Normal dose is 3 pills daily.  Your bodies production of Systemic Enzymes declines rapidly after age 27.  They are catalyst involved in 3,000 + body functions. They speed up healing, reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure naturally as they are from plants. One can not take these and take blood pressure meds also. 
 
I took 3 vitalzym pills for a few days and noticed nothing.. so I increased the dosage to 6 @ 3-4 x/day .. and after 90 days I healed both bicep tendons 90%.. that was 4 years ago.. I still have a slight 10% issue with the left tendon. 
 
Being on C60 for 2 weeks now I thought this might be beneficial for my tendon.. so I rubbed it on them a few times.. Usually doing any physical activity for long causes me to feel it in the left tendon the next day.  I have been painting a rehab the last 5 days for 4-6 hours a day. I have felt nothing in my left bicep, as well as a total lack of soreness, stiffness, or aches from the painting.  This is a first, as I have always been amazed at how a little paint brush and roller can cause so much soreness. ( I had been putting this painting job off the last 3 months due to a painful pinched nerve in my hip. The C60 reduced the pain 70% in one day... I've had no increase problem in that area from the painting either.) 
 
So I would recommend the following for joints..and arthritis pain. 
 
Systemic Enzymes in high doses.  Vitalzym I consider the strongest. 
 
Support straps.  Donjoy reaction knee braces are available at from  http://www.betterbra...CFeVaMgodjCUAlg
 
 
14% Gallium Nitrate horse liniment.. a capful.. once a day.. It removed 90% of my knee pain in one day.. April 20013. I applied it for 3 weeks daily and have only used it when I aggravate it.. It reduces inflammation and helps ligaments absorb nutrients. They use a 43% for horses.. available from www.galliumnitrate.com.  I have used it on elderly peoples deformed hands and instantly the pain disappeared and they could close their stiff hands.  
 
MSM-Sulfur is also given to Thoroughbred horses before and after racing.  Sulfur is a mineral that is in every cell membrane of the body.  One normally requires about 4,000 mg a day.. I take 1 rounded teaspoon 1-2 x /day for back issues. 
 
NeoCell Collagen+C type 1&3 might provide nutrients for the joints also.  
 
I would rub C60 on your joints also.