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Could Folate Deficiency Be Slowing Your Recovery?
Could a hidden folate deficiency be slowing your injury recovery? Here’s how we find it — and fix it — to get you back to peak performance.
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If you’ve ever wondered why your recovery from an injury seems slower than expected, the answer might be hiding in your nutrition — and specifically, in one key nutrient: folate.
Folate is essential for creating and repairing DNA, making red blood cells, and supporting the growth and repair of tissues. For athletes and active people, it’s a behind-the-scenes powerhouse for healing muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries. Without enough of it, your recovery can stall, no matter how good your rehab routine is.
The hidden genetic challenge
Here in Fort Collins, we work with many athletes who eat well, train smart, and still can’t bounce back like they used to. A common reason is a genetic condition called MTHFR. It limits the body’s ability to turn dietary folate or folic acid supplements into the active form your cells can actually use.
This means you could be eating all the spinach and taking all the vitamins you want — and still be functionally deficient.
Why this matters in sports medicine
When your folate levels are low, your body can’t repair tissues as quickly. Injuries that should heal in weeks can take months. Muscle recovery slows, and chronic inflammation can creep in. For competitive athletes, that’s the difference between being game-ready and sitting on the sidelines.
How we fix it
At Hecker Sports Medicine, we identify folate metabolism issues through targeted testing. If needed, we recommend methylated folate, which bypasses the genetic bottleneck. Combined with our advanced non-surgical therapies — like laser treatment and TECAR — this can speed up tissue healing, improve energy, and get you back to your sport faster.
From frustration to faster recovery
A Fort Collins runner came to us after months of recurring shin splints. Lab work revealed low active folate. Once we corrected it and paired it with targeted therapy, her recovery accelerated and she returned to training stronger than before.
🎥 Watch our breakdown → Fixing Folate Deficiency: Why It Matters for Healing
Don’t let a hidden deficiency keep you from peak performance. Book your appointment today and let’s make sure your nutrition is fueling your recovery. Schedule Here
