WHAT IS A DIETITIAN?
A dietitian-nutritionist is a professional holding a degree in Dietetics or in Dietetics and Nutrition Science from a university or technological institute in Greece. They are recognized as responsible for an individual’s nutritional care. They assist individuals or groups in making the right food choices—both quantitatively and qualitatively—by designing appropriate dietary plans aimed at providing the human body with essential nutrients to ensure a healthy lifestyle and to prevent or manage certain diet-related conditions in both healthy individuals and those with specific health issues.

They may also be involved in research, education, food policy and legislation. The profession is considered a paramedical or allied health field. A clinical dietitian, in addition to their basic duties, provides support to individuals with health problems related to clinical nutrition based on specific diagnoses, creating tailored dietary and nutritional therapy plans, acting as a member of the healthcare team.

HOW DOES THE ROLE OF THE DIETITIAN RELATE TO THE FIELD OF PHYSIATRIC MEDICINE?
At Physiatriki, nutritional management often involves patients suffering from malnutrition (due to dysphagia or poor nutrition) or patients referred to the rehabilitation unit due to chronic obesity (affecting the musculoskeletal system, radiculopathies, etc.), stroke, or clinical conditions requiring optimal nutritional support to enhance recovery and active, effective participation in rehabilitation programs.

WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL TO BE MONITORED BY A DIETITIAN DURING REHABILITATION THERAPY?
The primary role of the dietitian is to work closely with the patient to develop a balanced, complete, and nutritious program tailored to the individual’s habits and needs, aiming to prevent or treat disease. The dietitian also collaborates with the rehabilitation team—physiatrist, physiotherapist, psychologist, occupational therapist, and speech therapist—to ensure a successful treatment outcome.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM DIETITIAN SUPPORT IN A REHABILITATION AND PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER?
This service is for anyone wishing to achieve permanent weight control. At Physiatriki, we co-design a personalized diet plan ensuring nutritional adequacy, dietary balance, and weight stabilization or gradual loss with long-lasting results.

Nutritional support is offered for:

  • Normal physiological conditions (e.g., adolescents, elderly)

  • Various life stages (e.g., pregnancy, children)

  • Severe obesity

  • Athletes (competitive sports or post-injury)

  • Clinical conditions (e.g., diabetes, colitis)

  • Cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hypertension)

  • Chronic pain patients

  • Individuals with mobility impairments

  • Patients with spinal cord injuries

  • Patients with traumatic brain injuries

  • Patients requiring enteral feeding (e.g., gastrostomy)

  • Individuals with pressure ulcers

  • Individuals requiring weight gain (e.g., undernourished)

  • Individuals with malnutrition or dysphagia (e.g., after stroke)

WHAT DOES COMPREHENSIVE MONITORING BY THE REHABILITATION CENTER DIETITIAN AT PHYSIATRIKI INCLUDE?
The highly qualified dietitian-nutritionist at the Physiatriki Rehabilitation Unit provides nutritional care to all patients upon arrival. The first session includes:

  • Personal medical history

  • Nutritional assessment

  • Development of individualized weekly meal plans

  • Calculation of anthropometric indicators

WHAT OTHER SERVICES DOES THE PHYSIATRIKI DIETITIAN OFFER?

Home-based nutritional support
The Physiatriki Rehabilitation Unit offers dietetic monitoring at the patient’s home. This service is designed for individuals with limited time or mobility issues, ensuring high-quality nutritional care at home.

Remote nutritional support
Through its website, Physiatriki provides remote access to all dietetic services, enabling patients worldwide to benefit from our support with just a few steps.

Nutritional counseling and education
This service is aimed at individuals seeking simple advice, information, and education on nutritional issues for themselves or their families (e.g., children, mothers, people with disabilities), rather than a specialized dietary program.

Anthropometric Indicator Assessment
Using modern equipment, the dietitian at Physiatriki performs necessary measurements to assess nutritional status. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) assessment provides reliable information on an individual’s metabolism, useful for those seeking to change their weight or body composition, or simply wishing to know their daily caloric needs. Additional parameters are also measured, including lean body mass, body water (in weight and percentage), and muscle mass (in weight and percentage).

Nutritional counseling using biofeedback
The innovative method of biofeedback has found excellent application in the field of nutrition, introduced for the first time in Greece by the dietitian of the Physiatriki Rehabilitation Unit – Vasiliki Kouloula.

Our dietitians serve the following areas: Larissa, Volos, Trikala, and Karditsa.