04/18/2025
Injuries are an unfortunate reality for many athletes… it can end up shifting your training schedule from performance focus to prehab/rehab and your nutrition plan should be no different.
Nutrition myths and misunderstandings exist everywhere. But as a performance dietitian I want to help support athletes as they prepare and recover from their injury and return to sport.
Some common things I deal with when it comes to injury and recovery nutrition:
🏅 Calories/Energy: you still need to fuel your body to rebuild and repair. Cutting out too much because “you’re not exercising” or avoiding weight gain can negatively impact your recovery and return to sport.
🏅Supplements: unfortunately there is no “magic pill” to get you back quicker. BUT there are some helpful supplements that can help support your immunity, avoid excess muscle loss, and tendon/ligament rehab when used correctly. Optimizing diet and supplements is a winning combination for recovery.
🏅Hydrate: many athletes can become dehydrated when they don’t drink enough when injured due to reduced activity. Make sure to keep hydrated for overall health and recovery. This can also help keep you more regular if you are taking certain medications for pain. You shouldn’t only rely on thirst cues and instead set a fluid goal for yourself daily.
🏅Plan: injuries can make tasks like cooking and cleaning harder. Make sure to have a plan in place to avoid missing meals and ensuring you have access to good nutritious foods during recovery. Consider slow cooker freezer meals, delivery meal options, or gathering support from friends or family during your recovery time.
Trust me - I’ve been there.. It’s tough
A Sports Dietitian can help you navigate the world of nutrition for injury and support you getting back to your sport faster.
✨Set up a free call to see if Approach Nutrition is the right fit for your sport and performance nutrition planning in 2025✨
