Foods for a Faster Recovery
The Nutrients You Need During Physical Therapy Attending your physical therapy appointments and doing your at-home exercises as instructed by your PT are crucial parts of your recovery process. However, they’re not the only important steps you should take. What you eat can affect how quickly and well you heal just as much as your dedication to your exercises. By incorporating a few of these foods into your diet, you can heal faster and come back stronger than ever before.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids There are three phases to the healing process:
inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. While you might think that inflammation is a bad thing, it’s actually a normal and necessary part of healing. That said, you should still try to reduce inflammation, as it can be harmful in excess. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids do wonders to control inflammation. Plus, our bodies can’t make omega-3 fatty acids naturally, so we have to get them from what we consume. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish, olive oil, avocados, pecans, walnuts, and almonds. Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables Along with omega-3 fatty acids, the antioxidants from fruits and vegetables can also go a long way in reducing inflammation. Broccoli contains vitamins A, C, and K, as
well as folic acid and several different minerals. ( Pro Tip : Cook your broccoli to maximize these nutrients!) Citrus fruits and peppers have high levels of vitamin C, and peppers have high levels of beta-carotene as well. Additionally, turmeric and garlic work wonders during the healing process. Protein-Rich Meats, Nuts, and Dairy Products When it comes to the proliferation and remodeling stages of healing, healthy sources of protein are the way to go. Lean meats like poultry and fish are easy sources of protein, but if you don’t eat meat, you can also get protein from beans, eggs, nuts, and dairy products. Protein-rich foods will help heal muscles and bones and prevent muscle atrophy. It’s incredible what the body can do with just a few intentionally consumed superfoods!
“When I started PT, I could barely shake my head ‘yes’ or ‘no’ without neck pain. I felt like I just didn’t want to move my neck because I knew it would hurt. So, I would move my body instead of turning my neck. After months of therapy and doing my exercises faithfully, I now feel so much better. I can now move my neck with no pain — just a little stretch feeling. Looking left when driving was quite a challenge, but now no more — I can now quite freely look left while driving. Headaches were frequent when I came here in the beginning, now headaches are less, and often I’m able to do stretches and the headache will subside. Many years ago, I tried physical therapy — here at Madden, my treatment far exceeded my previous therapy!” –Nadine M.
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www.MaddenPT.com • 717.474.8754
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