Nutritional Strategies for Muscle Damage and Recovery
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 11
Special Issue Editors
Interests: muscle damage; performance; personal diets; sport disciplines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: sport medicine; athletes; sports nutrition; nutrition knowledge; trainers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
There is no doubt that physical activity leads to increased metabolic and functional demands on the human body. In this regard, intense or prolonged exercise can induce muscle damage of varying degrees, manifested by microtears in muscle fibers, disruptions in tissue structural integrity, infiltration of inflammatory cells, edema, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and temporary reductions in strength and physical performance. Although this damage is part of the natural adaptive response to exercise, appropriate recovery is essential to prevent negative outcomes such as overtraining, increased injury risk, and functional decline.
Within this context, promoting nutritional strategies that support muscle anabolism is crucial—not only due to their direct impact on functional improvement, but also because of their close relationship with effective recovery. Proteins, amino acids, bioactive compounds, and regulatory micronutrients—such as vitamins and minerals—have demonstrated fundamental and effective roles in the muscle recovery process. However, to maximize their efficacy, it is essential to consider key factors such as dosage, timing of intake, and the appropriate nutritional composition for each physiological context.
Specific nutrients can influence muscle protein synthesis, facilitate the resolution of inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and restore the anabolic–catabolic balance. Moreover, well-designed nutritional strategies can enhance substrate availability for cellular regeneration, preserve muscle mass, and shorten the time required for full functional recovery. Therefore, the integration of personalized nutritional interventions represents a key tool for optimizing post-exercise recovery and enhancing the overall benefits of physical training across various contexts and populations.
We warmly invite researchers and colleagues in the fields of nutrition, sports science, physiology, and related disciplines to contribute to this Special Issue of Nutrients, which aims to advance the understanding and application of nutritional strategies for muscle damage and recovery.
Prof. Dr. Alberto Caballero
Dr. Daniel Pérez-Valdecantos
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- physical activity
- nutrition
- recovery
- muscle damage
- skeletal muscle
- recovery strategies
- dietary supplements
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