The athlete who stays adequately fueled during injury preserves more muscle, tolerates rehab better, and returns with less damage to undo.
Healing raises nutrient demand
Tissue repair costs energy even when training drops.
Growth and normal adolescent needs do not pause.
Feed recovery across the whole day
Aim for protein at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Recovery works better with repeated doses than one giant dinner.
Bone, collagen, and immune support still matter
Calcium, vitamin D, iron, and vitamin C show up often in recovery plans.
Food first works best unless bloodwork or the clinician says otherwise.
Under-fueling during rehab delays the comeback
Low energy can mean weaker rehab sessions and slower tissue remodeling.
Mood, sleep, and motivation often crash when intake gets too low.