Clinical guide
Nutrition in Musculoskeletal Recovery
Bone, tendon, and muscle need enough energy and protein to remodel. The clinic still has to load the tissue. Food does not replace that load.
What the tissue actually needs
Muscle protein is built and broken down all day. Resistance work pushes the balance toward building when protein intake is adequate and spread across meals. Tendon and bone respond to load as well. A large calorie deficit during a period of heavy rehabilitation can work against that response, especially in older adults and in athletes who are already under-fueled.
Where the evidence is thin
- There is no single diet that has been shown to heal every rotator cuff, every fracture, or every tendon.
- Collagen and vitamin C are discussed in tendon research. Results are not uniform, and a blog protocol is not a prescription.
- Vitamin D status matters for bone in people who are deficient. Testing and dosing belong to the medical team.
- Anti-inflammatory diets are not a substitute for load management or for medical care of inflammatory disease.
A practical conversation
Ask whether the person is eating enough to support the work you are assigning. If they are skipping meals, living on coffee, or cutting calories hard while you are asking for strength gains, say so and offer general examples of protein-containing meals. If they need a meal plan for a medical condition, refer.
Related resources
Injury recovery
Energy, hydration, and patient education.
Protein
Published ranges and the people who need a specialist.
Specialized Topics
Requires the first two courses. Covers inflammation, gut health, and supplementation at a course level.
The third course covers specialized recovery topics
Specialized Topics requires successful completion of Introduction to Nutrition and Nutrition Assessment.