Nutritional Considerations for Injury Prevention and Recovery in Combat Sports


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TURNAGÖL H. H., KOŞAR Ş. N., GÜZEL Y., AKTİTİZ S., ATAKAN M. M.

Nutrients, vol.14, no.1, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 14 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/nu14010053
  • Journal Name: Nutrients
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: combat sports, nutrition, recovery from injury, sports injuries, supplements, RAPID WEIGHT-LOSS, ORAL CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION, MUSCLE PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS, TRAUMATIC BRAIN-INJURY, ESSENTIAL AMINO-ACIDS, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION, COMPETITION INJURIES, ENERGY AVAILABILITY, RESISTANCE EXERCISE, COLLAGEN-SYNTHESIS
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2021 by the authors. Li- censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Sports participation is not without risk, and most athletes incur at least one injury through-out their careers. Combat sports are popular all around the world, and about one-third of their in- juries result in more than 7 days of absence from competition or training. The most frequently injured body regions are the head and neck, followed by the upper and lower limbs, while the most common tissue types injured are superficial tissues and skin, followed by ligaments and joint capsules. Nutrition has significant implications for injury prevention and enhancement of the recovery process due to its effect on the overall physical and psychological well-being of the athlete and improving tissue healing. In particular, amino acid and protein intake, antioxidants, creatine, and omega-3 are given special attention due to their therapeutic roles in preventing muscle loss and anabolic resistance as well as promoting injury healing. The purpose of this review is to present the roles of various nutritional strategies in reducing the risk of injury and improving the treatment and rehabilitation process in combat sports. In this respect, nutritional considerations for muscle, joint, and bone injuries as well as sports-related concussions are presented. The injury risk associated with rapid weight loss is also discussed. Finally, preoperative nutrition and nutritional considerations for returning to a sport after rehabilitation are addressed.