Optimising Nutrition for Enhanced Recovery and Health Nutrition
The foundation of recovery, rehabilitation and long-term wellbeing
Recovery and rehabilitation don’t start and finish in the operating theatre or the gym.
Nutrition — the food you consume every day — plays a pivotal role in how well your body heals, how effectively you rehabilitate, and how confidently you return to an active, healthy life.
At Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group, nutrition is an important part of our integrated care model, supporting patients before and after surgery, during rehabilitation, and well beyond recovery.
From January, patients can access on-site dietetic support with Sally-Anne Livock, Accredited Practising Dietitian, as part of a truly multidisciplinary approach to care.
On-site dietetic care is now part of the Joint Vision model, with Accredited Practising Dietitian Sally-Anne Livock supporting patients as part of a multidisciplinary approach to recovery and rehabilitation.
Meet Sally Livock, Accredited Practising Dietitian
Sally-Anne Livock is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with extensive experience supporting people through weight management, injury recovery and rehabilitation.
She has worked closely with orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists in both clinical practice and during her years teaching at the University of the Sunshine Coast. This collaborative background allows Sally to tailor nutrition strategies that align seamlessly with each patient’s medical care and rehabilitation plan.
Sally works closely with each patient to develop an individualised nutrition plan, structured around their lifestyle, food preferences and health goals. Her approach focuses on clarity — helping patients understand the science of healthy eating while cutting through confusion, misinformation and hype.
Why nutrition matters in recovery and rehabilitation
Good nutrition supports the body’s ability to heal, adapt and rebuild. When nutritional needs are not met, recovery may be slower, rehabilitation more challenging, and overall outcomes compromised.
Optimising nutrition can support recovery in several ways.
Weight management and joint health
Excess body weight places additional strain on joints and tendons.
Remarkably, losing just 5 kilograms can reduce pressure on the joints by up to 20 kilograms — a meaningful difference for a new or repaired joint or tendon, and one that can significantly improve participation in rehabilitation.
Carrying excess weight can also increase inflammation, leading to greater pain, reduced mobility and fatigue. Everyday activities may become more difficult, limiting social engagement and the ability to enjoy time with family, children or grandchildren.
Carrying excess weight can also impact mental wellbeing, contributing to feelings of frustration, low self-esteem and reduced confidence. When movement becomes harder and recovery feels slower, mental health can suffer.
Weight management coaching and nutrition support can help change this — supporting both physical recovery and a healthier, happier quality of life.
Blood glucose control
For individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance — often associated with excess abdominal weight — nutrition plays a critical role in blood glucose regulation.
Achieving stable blood glucose levels is particularly important before surgery and can significantly improve recovery afterwards. Elevated blood sugars are associated with poorer wound healing and impaired muscle regeneration.
Maintaining blood glucose within an optimal range can also help manage hunger, improve energy levels and support sustainable weight management throughout recovery.
Wound healing and infection risk
Poor wound healing and infection can significantly delay recovery and rehabilitation.
Severe wound complications may lead to prolonged immobility, interrupting rehabilitation plans and extending recovery timelines. Ensuring adequate nutritional intake — particularly protein and key micronutrients — supports tissue repair and helps keep recovery on track.
Good nutrition can mean the difference between prolonged setbacks and a smoother, more predictable return to activity.
Reducing inflammation
Poor dietary habits can increase inflammation within the body, elevating surgical risk and slowing healing.
Chronic inflammation can impair wound healing, delay rehabilitation progress and prolong discomfort. An evidence-based, anti-inflammatory dietary approach can help reduce these risks and support more efficient recovery.
Optimising bone, muscle, tendon and joint health
Certain nutrients are essential for musculoskeletal recovery:
Protein is the building block of muscle and bone. Inadequate intake can compromise both rehabilitation and long-term health. Total intake, protein type and distribution across the day all matter.
Calcium provides bone strength and structure.
Vitamin D supports calcium absorption and bone health.
Zinc and Vitamin C play vital roles in wound healing and surgical recovery.
A tailored nutrition plan ensures these requirements are met in a way that suits each patient’s preferences and lifestyle.
Nutrition and quality of life
Beyond physical recovery, good nutrition supports overall wellbeing.
Patients often report:
Increased energy and vitality
Improved sleep
Better concentration, mental clarity and mood — with clinical studies showing a clear link between healthy eating patterns and improved mental health, including reduced symptoms of depression.
Nutrition is not about restrictive diets. Wherever possible, the focus is on practical, sustainable changes — simple food swaps, realistic meals and habits that fit into everyday life and support long-term health.
Supporting your journey to better health
Nutrition is a powerful tool in recovery, rehabilitation and lifelong wellbeing.
Sally looks forward to supporting Joint Vision patients on their journey — helping them recover well, move confidently, and build healthier habits that last well beyond rehabilitation.
Book a consultation with our Dietitian
If you’re preparing for surgery, recovering from injury, or looking to improve your long-term health, nutrition support can play a powerful role in your recovery.
Sally-Anne Livock is available onsite at Joint Vision one day per week, working closely with our orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists and rehabilitation team to support your care.
👉 Book an appointment
👉 Speak to your clinician about a referral
Private health rebates may apply. Medicare EPC and WorkCover referrals are accepted where applicable.