Nutrition

Technique (how it works)

Nutrition therapy uses assessment and coaching to change eating patterns over time. It often focuses on protein adequacy, energy balance, fibre and gut health, hydration, and meal routines that support recovery and stable energy.

Medical benefits

• Supports tissue healing and recovery with adequate protein and energy intake.
• Improves long‑term health risk factors such as cardiovascular health and metabolic control.
• Helps manage weight when relevant to joint load and mobility.
• Can improve exercise performance and rehabilitation tolerance.

Procedural steps

1. Assessment of goals, health conditions, medications, and current diet.
2. Identification of barriers (time, appetite, GI symptoms, cravings, fatigue).
3. Plan design: priorities, meal structure, and realistic habit targets.
4. Tracking approach (simple checklists or food logs when useful).
5. Follow‑up review and adjustments based on progress and tolerance.

Risks and complications

• Nutrient deficiencies with overly restrictive diets.
• Blood sugar instability if changes are not aligned with diabetes treatment.
• Gastrointestinal discomfort during fibre changes if increased too quickly.
• Medication interactions (for example supplements) if not reviewed.

Preparation and aftercare

• Bring a medication list and note any allergies, intolerances, or GI symptoms.
• Track 2–3 days of typical food and drink intake if possible.
• Start with small changes you can repeat; consistency matters more than perfection.
• Arrange follow‑ups to review progress and adjust goals safely.

Recovery timeline

Some changes (hydration, meal timing) can help within days. Body composition and metabolic improvements usually develop over weeks to months with consistent habits and follow‑up support.