Category: Fitness & Rehabilitation

Normal digestion typically takes 36 hours from ingestion to excretion. Within the first six to eight hours, food goes from the stomach to the small intestine (Mahan, & Raymond, 2017). However, that is not always the case, as sometimes there is a delay in gastric emptying (emptying of the contents in the stomach to the small intestine). Gastroparesis, which means paralysis of the stomach, is a condition characterized by damaged nerves and muscles not functioning properly or adequately (Mahan, & Raymond, 2017; Kumar, Chapman, Javed, Alam, Malik, & Azmi, 2018). The stomach either cannot or moves the food very slowly from the stomach to the small intestine, the next part of the digestive process. These complications can occur as a result of an obstruction within the stomach and/or intestines, diabetes, post-surgery, idiopathic (no known cause), or some neurological disorders (Camilleri, 2016; Haans, & Masclee, 2007; Homko, Duffy, Friedenberg, Boden, & Parkman, 2015; Kumar, Chapman, Javed, Alam, Malik, & Azmi, 2018).

Those experiencing hip fractures are typically more prone to comorbidities, postoperative complications, and protein-energy malnutrition (Bell, Bauer, Capra, & Pulle, 2014; Foss, Jensen, & Kehlet, 2007). Many individuals fail to meet the appropriate amount of energy and protein during postoperative care. As a result, muscle wasting can occur and contribute to further deterioration of nutritional status and health outcomes (Bell, Bauer, Capra, & Pulle, 2014; Foss, Jensen, & Kehlet, 2007; Mahan & Raymond, 2017).