Nutrition

Nutrition

Arthrofibrosis is a fibrotic joint disease characterized by excessive collagen production due to injuries, surgeries, and infections.

Injuries/surgeries/infections cause an inflammatory response, leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines increase mast cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes, promoting fibroblast proliferation, reduced vascularization, and decreased autophagy of fibrotic tissue (collagen).
The reduced autophagy of fibrotic tissue results in an accumulation of defective mitochondria, leading to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (NOS), which translates into increased oxidative stress.

INJURY → INFLAMMATION → ACCUMULATION OF FIBROTIC TISSUE → ROS + NOS

We should imagine the inflammation underlying arthrofibrosis as a burning fire, while ROS and NOS can be seen as both the ashes produced by the fire and the fuel that feeds the fire itself.

If you were faced with a blazing fire, what would you do? You would probably:

  1. try to remove anything that fuels the fire
  2. seek a way to completely extinguish it or control it
  3. lastly, clean up the ashes produced by the fire

There is a mean that, when used consistently, can accomplish all of this. It is called FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION, which involves a combination of a PERSONALIZED ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIETARY PLAN and TARGETED SUPPLEMENTATION.
The goal of functional nutrition is to understand the underlying cause of an ailment and try to eradicate it.

There are various foods that can help us combat inflammation and help preserving muscle mass, and many others that can exacerbate its presence.

So, having found our firefighter (nutrition) that will guide us in taming and extinguishing the fire, this alone is not enough. Other tools are necessary to be 100% effective in completing the mission, namely a proper lifestyle and supplementation, which act as "fire extinguishers".

There are multiple effective supplements acting as powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, alleviating symptoms, useful for cellular membrane repair and maintenance, and with a joint-protective action.

Nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle work symbiotically to reduce acute and chronic low-grade inflammation, leading to better pain management and optimized joint functionality, significantly reducing the standard prescribed doses of medication.

What does a functional nutrition program consist of?

The in-person nutritional program consists of an initial visit lasting 45 minutes, during which the specialist has the opportunity to deeply understand the patient through careful medical history collection.
Additionally, during this visit, anthropometric and bioimpedance measurements will be taken to provide a clear picture of body composition and determine the most effective personalized nutritional strategy.
Following the visit, the dietary plan, along with targeted supplementation, will be provided. If there are any doubts or questions regarding the dietary plan and supplementation, the specialist will be available to the patient in the following weeks.
Periodically, monthly in-person check-ups (30 minutes) will be conducted to assess the impact of the dietary plan on physical and mental well-being. If necessary, modifications to the dietary plan will be made.

What should be brought to the first in-person visit?

Recent blood test results and a list of medications and supplements being taken.

Is online consultation possible?

It is possible to conduct online visits and check-ups, but it is necessary to provide/have:

  • recent blood test results
  • list of medications and supplements being taken
  • a BIVA report (bioimpedance vector analysis), without which it will not be possible to start a structured program together
  • a scale, a measuring tape, and a height measurer should be available during the video call to allow for necessary measurements under the specialist's guidance

Before each monthly check-up, it will be necessary to send the specialist the BIVA analysis conducted using the same equipment as the previous ones.
The initial online visit lasts 30 minutes (including the delivery of the dietary plan within 1 week), and subsequent check-ups take approximately 15 minutes. The times may vary slightly depending on individual cases.