Sports Injuries
Whether you are a weekend warrior or a frequent crossfitter you can get injured. Treatment consisted of rest, ice, compression, elevation, and popping some ibuprofen for pain. Long term use of NSAIDs has proven to cause ulcers and leaky gut, and we don’t do a great job of resting allowing our bodies to decrease inflammation and heal.
When you are injured inflammation occurs. Inflammation has an initiation phase and a resolution phase. The initiation phase has redness and swelling, decrease mobility, tenderness to palpation, etc. Resolving that inflammation takes some time until it reaches the resolution phase. If the resolution phase isn’t reached you develop increased scar tissue, impaired function, and hypersensitivity.
What are some nutritional options for recovery?
Vitamin D is a good overall treatment for muscle pain. Vitamin D and its receptor are important for normal skeletal muscle development and in optimizing muscle strength and performance.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2901845/
Proteolytic enzymes digest proteins and breaks down fibrin. By getting rid of tissue debris it allows more blood flow into the joint, which promotes healing. Those on blood thinners should not take proteolytic enzymes.
EPA/DHA reduces inflammation and shuts off the inflammatory process.
These are a few natural options that should be considered in treatment of sports injuries. Short term use of NSAIDs is effective for pain management and is not recommended long term. Injured athletes need to take adequate recovery time to allow the body to heal. Diets high in fruits and veggies antioxidants are also recommended to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
As always, get your levels checked. These are just recommendations, and is not to be used as medical advice. Supplementing with quality supplements at a dose too low or too high can cause future problems.
Posted In:
Nutrition
Wellness
Sports Injury
