An Evidence-Based Approach to Healing
Successful recovery requires more than just surgery. Sleep, rehabilitation, and nutrition all play critical roles in restoring strength, mobility, and overall health. Use this guide to discuss your recovery plan with your care team. Timing and recommendations depend on your procedure and medical history:
Rehabilitation
A structured rehabilitation program improves range of motion, strength, and function after surgery, and reduces the risk of long-term stiffness or weakness. Evidence-based rehab programs can significantly speed up recovery and improve surgical outcomes.
Tip: Consistency matters more than intensity early on. Small, regular movements guided by your rehab plan will safely rebuild your strength.
Start your personalized rehabilitation today with the myHealthTrack app:
The Recovery Shop
Recommendations simplified to support a smooth return back to functional movement and doing the things you love.
Sleep
Good sleep is essential for wound healing, tissue repair, immune function, and overall recovery. Research shows that poor sleep after surgery is linked to delayed healing, increased pain, and higher risk of complications
Tip: Aim for 8–10 hours of sleep per night during the first few weeks after surgery. Create a calm sleep environment, use extra pillows for support, and allow for short daytime naps if needed.
Nutrition
Nutrition is one part of recovery planning. Dr. Jazayeri coauthored a 2026 review of nutritional optimization in spine surgery, examining screening, protein and amino acid support, and vitamin D. The review summarizes existing studies; it does not establish the same benefits for every orthopedic operation.
Protein needs are individualized. Ask your surgeon or registered dietitian to set targets that account for your usual intake, procedure, medical conditions, and recovery progress. A general weight-based calculation should not replace that assessment.
Tell your care team about unintended weight loss, poor appetite, or difficulty eating. Our perioperative nutrition guide explains screening, evidence limits, questions to ask, and the publication’s financial disclosure.
Why Vitamin D Matters in Orthopedic Surgery
Vitamin D has an established role in bone health. Dr. Jazayeri’s 2026 coauthored spine-surgery review discusses vitamin D and recovery, but it does not prove that supplementation improves rotator cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, or shoulder replacement outcomes for every patient.
Discuss whether testing or supplementation is appropriate for you, including the dose and follow-up plan. A low vitamin D level associated with poorer outcomes does not, by itself, show that taking a supplement will prevent those outcomes. Read the review or explore our nutrition guide.
Nutrition Reference
Ng MK, Mastrokostas LE, Mastrokostas PG, Razi A, Monas A, Bou Monsef J, Razi AE, Jazayeri R. Nutritional Optimization in Spine Surgery: A Review of Its Implications for Postoperative Recovery and Outcomes. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2026;34(18):e2603-e2612. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-25-00757.
Nutrition sections updated September 21, 2026. Follow the personalized rehabilitation, medication, and nutrition instructions provided by your care team.
Medically reviewed by Reza Jazayeri, M.D. on
