Beyond Movement: A Physiotherapist's Perspective on Nutrition and Hydration Week

As we mark Nutrition and Hydration Week, I'm reminded of a conversation with a patient struggling with persistent muscle cramps during their rehabilitation. After discussing their exercise program, I asked about their fluid intake. "I barely drink anything during the day," they admitted. "I'm always too busy."

Two weeks after implementing a simple hydration schedule, their cramps had significantly reduced, and their exercise tolerance had improved.

While physiotherapists are primarily movement specialists, I've learned we cannot separate how people move from how they fuel their bodies. The evidence is clear: nutrition and hydration directly impact recovery, performance, and pain management.

In my practice, I've observed several key connections:

Hydration and tissue health: Proper hydration affects the viscosity of synovial fluid in our joints and the hydration of intervertebral discs. Many patients are surprised to learn that their morning stiffness might be partially related to overnight dehydration.

Protein and recovery: Adequate protein intake supports muscle repair after injury or intensive exercise. For older adults working to maintain strength, protein timing and distribution throughout the day can make a significant difference.

Anti-inflammatory nutrition: For patients managing inflammatory conditions, certain dietary approaches may complement their rehabilitation. The research on nutrition's role in modulating inflammation continues to evolve.

Energy availability: Patients sometimes struggle with their rehabilitation exercises simply because they're not consuming enough calories to support their activity level and recovery needs.

I don't pretend to be a nutrition expert—that's why I value collaborative relationships with dietitians. But I do believe in addressing the basics and making appropriate referrals when nutrition might be affecting a patient's progress.

What I find most effective is helping patients make connections between their nutrition habits and their symptoms or recovery. Small, sustainable changes often yield significant results.

This Nutrition and Hydration Week, I'm challenging myself to have more of these important conversations with my patients. Because sometimes, the missing element in rehabilitation isn't another exercise—it's what happens at the dinner table or water bottle.

To my physiotherapy colleagues: How do you approach nutrition and hydration discussions in your practice? And to those currently in rehabilitation: Have you considered how your nutrition might be supporting (or hindering) your recovery?

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