The present invention relates to the use of a sulphated polysaccharide in acid form or as a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, selected from the group constituting of inulin sulphate, gellan sulphate, pullulan sulphate, curdlan sulphate, alginiq acid sulphate, laminarin sulphate, and pectin sulphate, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of arthrosis in a mammal. Preferably, the sulphated polysaccharide is inulin sulphate, most preferably inulin polysulphate sodium salt. The present invention also relates to the use of a sulphated oligosaccharide derived from a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of inulin, gellan, pullulan, curdlan, alginic acid, laminarin, and pectin, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of arthrosis in a mammal.