Your body is depending on you to supply it with the necessary raw materials to conduct its countless everyday functions. The more you demand from it, the more careful you must be about your nutritional strategies. Read on to learn more about the close connection between athletic performance and nutrition. Then, reach out to a physical therapist to find more ways to boost your performance.
Why is nutrition so closely linked to athletic performance?
Your car won’t run properly without gas. But it also won’t run properly, or at all, if you feed it nothing other than gas. After all, cars also require oils, additives, electricity and other provisions for smooth, consistent operation.
In the same way, your body needs a mix of several different types of nutrients. These nutrients are grouped into two primary categories: macronutrients and micronutrients. Both of these categories are important to nutrition that increases athletic performance.
- Macronutrients — Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber and water. The first three of these are directly involved in providing the body with energy. The body uses carbs first, since they burn most readily. This makes them an important fuel for both short-burst activities and endurance training. Proteins, which are made up of 20 essential amino acids, are the building blocks of muscle. This includes that all-important muscle, the heart. Fats are stored as a reserve fuel supply. They’re also involved in everything from brain health and inflammation management to hormone production and joint lubrication.
- Micronutrients — When a physical therapist mentions micronutrients, they are talking about vitamins and minerals. Some minerals regulate each other’s actions, such as sodium paired with potassium or calcium and magnesium. The body also requires trace elements such as copper, selenium and chromium. Athletes flock to B-complex vitamins because of their ability to increase energy availability. But you also need a mix of vitamins A, C, E, K and others to keep your body functioning.
Other options besides nutrition that physical therapists can use to boost performance
The wrong nutritional balances can sabotage your physical function in all kinds of ways. For instance, if you’re neglecting your carbs before an endurance event, your body may start burning fat as fuel. It may also start burning proteins, which can deprive you of muscle power. This is just one reason why your physical therapist may address nutritional practices as part of your performance training or physical therapy program.
In addition to nutrition suggestions, your physical therapist can help you with therapy methods like:
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help you link nutrition and physical therapy to boost athletic performance
Looking for nutrition and physical therapy that can boost your athletic performance? Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy is ready and willing to help you. We offer free screenings that can reveal issues that are holding back your performance. Our physical therapists also excel at building individualized therapy plans intended to address underlying issues and boost athletic performance. We even offer virtual care and at-home therapy services that allow you to get our help without even leaving home.
Contact our team today for more information about our physical therapy services or to schedule an initial appointment.
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