Treatment Protocols Flashcards

A female distance runner has amenorrhea, recurrent stress fractures, and low energy availability. What is the first-line nutrition treatment?

Answer: Increase energy intake and/or reduce training load to restore energy availability

RED-S and the Female Athlete Triad are treated mainly by restoring energy availability, ideally to at least 45 kcal/kg fat-free mass per day.

An endurance athlete has a serum ferritin of 18 ng/mL and normal hemoglobin. What is the most appropriate protocol?

Answer: Oral iron supplementation taken in the morning after training, plus heme iron food sources

Iron deficiency without anemia is treated with oral iron. Taking it in the morning, when post-exercise hepcidin is lower, and away from calcium improves absorption.

During a 6-hour ultramarathon, a runner becomes confused and nauseated after drinking large amounts of plain water and gaining weight. What is the suspected condition and the first step?

Answer: Exercise-associated hyponatremia; stop fluid intake and get urgent medical evaluation

Weight gain with confusion after overdrinking suggests EAH, which calls for fluid restriction and medical care, possibly with hypertonic saline.

What is the general guideline for rehydrating after exercise when time to recover is short?

Answer: Drink about 125–150% of the fluid lost, with sodium

Ongoing urine losses mean athletes need about 1.25–1.5 L of fluid per kg of body mass lost, and sodium helps them retain it.

An athlete in a sport with a high risk of disordered eating shows rapid weight loss and secretive eating. What should the sports nutritionist do?

Answer: Refer to a multidisciplinary team that includes a physician and a mental health professional

Suspected eating disorders go beyond a nutritionist's scope and need multidisciplinary treatment.

During immobilization after an ACL reconstruction, what nutrition approach best limits muscle loss?

Answer: Keep energy intake adequate and protein at about 1.6–2.5 g/kg/day, spread across meals

Healing raises energy needs, and higher protein spread through the day helps reduce disuse atrophy.

An athlete has GI distress in races after using a new gel. What is the best protocol?

Answer: Train the gut by practicing carbohydrate intake during training sessions

Repeated practice with race-day carbohydrate improves gut tolerance and absorption.