The Importance of Nutrition Before and After Orthopaedic Surgery

The Vital Role of Nutrition in Orthopaedic Surgery Recovery: Why What You Eat Matters

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Preparing for orthopaedic surgery? Your journey doesn’t start in the operating theatre. It begins at your dining table. Good nutrition before and after surgery isn’t just a healthy habit — it’s medicine. Here’s why.

The Science: Nutrition’s Crucial Role Before and After Surgery

• Malnutrition is common—and risky
  Up to 65% of surgical patients are malnourished or at risk, which is linked to longer hospital stays, more complications, and even increased mortality MEND+6Andrew Noble MD+6Dr Paul Jacob+6MDPI+1.

• Surgery triggers a catabolic storm
  Surgical stress causes the body to break down muscle to fuel healing, leading to marked muscle loss within days—up to 1% per day in older patients after joint replacement MDPI+2MEND+2.
• Protein and amino acids are your recovery allies
  Taking in sufficient protein and essential amino acids before and after surgery helps reduce muscle breakdown and supports healing Advances in Nutrition+15MDPI+15Mend Nutrition+15.
• Early postoperative feeding matters
  Techniques like Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) promote early oral feeding and carbohydrate loading, which reduce the catabolic stress response and promote healing ScienceDirect+1SpringerLink+1.
• Comprehensive nutritional support works
  Integrative perioperative nutrition—including preoperative optimising and early post-op feeding—reduces complications, improves wound healing, and supports faster recoveryMDPI+15SpringerLink+15ScienceDirect+15ScienceDirect.

Introducing MEND Nutrition: Targeted Support for Orthopaedic Recovery

MEND is a medically formulated nutritional powder designed specifically to meet the increased demands of surgery recovery. Here’s how it helps:

• Tailored for orthopaedic needs
  Products like MEND Repair + Recover Surgery deliver a precise blend of 24 g of protein, 25 g of amino acids, 3 g of creatine, plus vitamins and minerals to support muscle, bone, and tissue healing Mend Nutrition+1Dr Paul Jacob+6Mend Nutrition+6Mend Nutrition+6.
• Clinically proven for joint replacement
  MEND Joint Replacement is the only medical food tested in multiple double-blind randomized controlled trialsshowing enhanced tissue repair and recovery after joint replacement surgery Joint Replacement Hawaii+5MEND+5Dr Paul Jacob+5.
• Developed from research
  The formulation was based on years of research by experts in metabolism and muscle physiology, including Hans C. Dreyer and Erin C. Owen, focusing specifically on preventing muscle loss after surgery
• Supports multiple recovery phases
  The recommended protocol includes:
  • 1–2 weeks before surgery to prepare.
  • 2–4 weeks after surgery to support healing and reduce muscle loss
• Broad healing benefits
  MEND supports muscle and bone health, accelerates wound repair, reduces inflammation, and boosts immune function—key priorities for orthopaedic patients Mend Nutrition+4Mend Nutrition+4Carrell Clinic+4New Jersey Orthopaedic Institute+7Andrew Noble MD+7Mend Nutrition+7.

Putting It All Together: A Practical Nutritional Roadmap

Pre‑operative - Build resilience—optimises immunity, muscle, and healing. Eat balanced meals, start MEND 1–2 weeks before surgery

‍Peri‑operative - Reduce surgical stress response and launch healing. Follow ERAS: avoid prolonged fasting, include carbohydrate intake

‍Post‑operative - Counter muscle loss, repair tissue, prevent infection. Continue MEND for 2–4 weeks post-op; ensure high protein meals

Rehabilitation - Maintain gains, support long-term strength and mobility. Gradually shift to regular protein-rich diet, hydration, + exercise

In Summary: Why Nutrition—and MEND—Matter

Strong recovery isn’t just about the operation. It's about priming your body beforehand and nourishing it afterward.

• Good nutrition improves outcomes—cutting risks and speeding recovery.
• MEND fills critical nutritional gaps, with strong clinical backing for joint replacement patients.
• Structured nutritional support complements your physiotherapy, reduces hospital time, and helps you return to your best sooner.

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