When to use this
At the start of tendon or ligament rehab, when the plan needs to hold for weeks of slow tissue healing.
- An athlete feeling better at week three and ready to abandon both rehab and the food plan.
- Building a simple pre-rehab fueling routine around physical therapy sessions.
- A family asking whether a connective-tissue supplement is worth buying.
Advanced lab
The pre-rehab protocol and the daily base
The sheet gives the priorities. The timing protocol coaches ask about — with its honest evidence label — is here.
Connective-tissue supplement research is still developing and no product replaces rehab loading. Keep the treating physician and physical therapist leading the plan, and use a sports dietitian to individualize the food side.
Evidence sources
These references support the handout’s general education. Individual medical, supplement, laboratory, or injury questions should be handled by the appropriate qualified clinician.
- Tipton KD. Nutritional support for exercise-induced injuries. Sports Med. 2015.
- Close GL, Sale C, Baar K, Bermon S. Nutrition for the prevention and treatment of injuries in track and field athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019.
Where to go next
