This calculator is designed for spinal cord injury nutrition planning using assumptions informed by published SCI energy expenditure and macro guidance.
Generic calorie calculators are built for non-SCI populations and often do not work well here, so this tool applies SCI-specific adjustment factors.
Method
How each part of the calculator maps to the literature above:
REE model selection: generic Mifflin-St Jeor or SCI-adjusted pathway based on SCI REE validation studies [1,2,3,4].
SCI adjustment factor (level and AIS): approximates lower REE in SCI populations and can be applied in the SCI model path [1,2,5].
Phase and pressure injury context: adds clinical-context calorie/protein adjustments, especially during rehabilitation and wound-healing risk periods [4,7].
Goal deltas and macro structure: informed by SCI nutrition/dietetics evidence and practice-focused reviews [6,8].
Output is a starting estimate; weekly body-weight and composition trend should guide refinement.
Calories: —
Expected weekly change: —
Protein: —
Fat: —
Carbs: —
Timeline to target: —
Breakdown: —
Target weight steers deficit/surplus size and timeline estimate. This remains an estimate and should be checked against weekly trend data.
Notes
Core references used to inform the adjustment logic: