Nutrition

[MJHUSKERS]

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I read something about how nutrition can play important role in rehabbing patients...such as the fact that patients that are under eaters tend to rehab at a slower rate than someone who is on a correct diet.

Just kind of curious how nutrition can play a role in helping patients rehab...any nutrition experts out there?

 

[lee9786]

I think it really comes down to increasing caloric, protein, and mineral intake (Ca, P). Calorie restriction when injured or sick will result in longer recovery. It all depends on the severity of the injury. I'm not sure about broken bones or fractures but I do know that a patient with a third degree burns needs significantly more calories and protein than a first degree burn patient.

 

[mac_kin]

I can't tell you specifics regarding amounts of different nutrients (I'm sure you could try googling it), but it makes logical sense that a severe injury results in a large amount of tissue destruction and inflammation which further increases damage. As such, the building blocks of tissues (proteins/amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and water) would need to be replenished. I would hypothesize that based on the type of tissue that is damaged the amounts of specific nutrients would balance accordingly. Also, very acute patients and those bed-ridden for prolonged periods of time require much more caloric intake simply because they lose muscle really quickly! From experience, I find that hospital patients who refuse to eat will lack the energy to complete even simple self-care activities, whereas those who follow their diets have increased endurance and activity tolerance. It's definitely important to remind very acute patients that food/water intake will give them the energy they need to complete their rehab.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific.

 

[_FNG_]

I'm no RD but I do try to encourage people to make better nutritional decisions, especially those that I feel fit the stereo-type of being poor eaters (teenage girls). This population has a high ACL-R rate and during later stages post-op rehab can get more challening. This becomes difficult (and likely less safe) when they've only had a diet coke and some carrots all day long.