History of Sports
If we consider the stone ages, we can see that sports initially developed as a form of combat and warfare which was necessary for survival. As the years progressed, contests began to be held which marked the beginning of Sports as an area to exhibit one’s physical strength. In India, right from the Vedic period, we find that people were expected to be well trained in archery, swimming, military games, sword-fighting, and horse-chariot racing, wrestling and hunting. This was seen in other parts of the world as well especially Greece, where sports was first instituted formally, with the first Olympic games recorded in 776 B.C. With sports, the injuries followed, right from the simple sprain and cramps to the deadly concussion and head injuries. This led to the development of sports and exercise medicine as a specialty today.
What is SEM?
Sports medicine, also known as Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM), is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and the prevention and treatment of injuries related to sports and exercise. It is only since the 20th century that this has emerged as a distinct field of healthcare. The doctor trained in Sports and exercise medicine is a specialist Orthopeadician who has extensive training and education in musculoskeletal medicine. SEM consultants also deliver clinical physical activity interventions, negating the burden of disease directly attributed to physical inactivity and the compelling evidence for the effectiveness of exercise in the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of disease. Also, these doctors are frequently involved in promoting the benefits of physical activity, exercise, and sports for the individual and communities.
Ayurveda: Optimal Exercise Practices and references to Sports Injury Treatment
Exercise (Vyayama) has been given a great importance in the daily regimen (Dinacharya). A person who follows this regimen will have lightness of the body, improved agility, and a fit and strong body, improved metabolism and reduced fat tissue. Great care has to be taken by a person following Vyayama as there are specific rules on how it needs to be followed; it can be done for a longer duration in the cold climate and spring but should be done moderately in other seasons. One has to always exercise half of one’s capacity even if he/she is strong and eats oily food. After exercise, oil application on the body (Deha mardana) needs to be done but is strictly contraindicated in very young children, old people, and the ones suffering from diseases.
Exercise therapy in Ayurveda has been explained in various contexts, such as in the context of rehabilitation in fractures, in conditions like shoulder pain/frozen shoulder and in the context of certain neurological conditions. Traditionally, the Kalaripayattu gurus from Kerala have been treating sports injuries for centuries using innovative traditional methods of bandaging using mixtures of traditionally known herbs and oils with excellent outcomes. This branch is also sometimes referred as Kalari Chikitsa. Sprains, muscle tears, tendon injuries, ligament injuries are commonly seen in people training for such rigorous forms of martial arts.
Ayurveda Diet
The following diet is recommended for people suffering from sports or exercise injury:
Conditions caused by Sports Injury
Some of the Ayurvedic terms related to Sports Injury are:
Ayurvedic Treatment Methods
The below-mentioned treatments are to be done rigorously once or twice a day as a part of in-patient care:
Outpatient care is not preferred in these cases because rest and immobilization (partial) are the two things which are a must for the initial 3-4 weeks. After all this, based on the condition, knee strengthening exercises are to be followed in the long run with regular use of knee cap or crepe bandage for 4 more weeks; knee strain and rigorous activities need to be avoided. After 3 months, kneecap has to be mandatorily used if the person wishes to get back into sports.
As per Acharya Sushrutha, these injuries are easier to manage at a younger age, with very little dosha involvement, and in colder climates. As the age advances, so does the time for healing of these injuries.
As far as possible, a sports person needs to take care of him/her throughout the game and at the same time continue to play a good game. It may seem a hard goal to achieve but is very important. Always use the required protective gear in all the sports, this can reduce the major injuries that can happen, even during practice. Never play any sport until your body is fit, hence follow exercises or Yoga regularly as per the directions in Ayurveda to have a more flexible body. Follow oil application every day as a routine post exercise or any sport as this will strengthen the body.
Reviving Athletes: A Case Study of Ayurvedic Approach to Sports Injuries and Non-Surgical Recovery
Statistics show a steady rise in sports injuries, and thus, a rise in arthroscopic surgeries in today’s age. People are seeking non-interventional management; specifically, what Ayurveda can provide.
A young man in his thirties comes for his consultation in a wheelchair. He is a sportsman and a football player. 10 days back he twisted his right knee while running and since then has been unable to bend his knee or walk without pain. Examination revealed a swelling on his right knee with mild effusion and tenderness with restricted the range of motion (ROM) of a joint from full extension to full flexion (bending) measured in degrees. He consulted an orthopeadician who advised for an X-ray and MRI, after seeing which he concluded that there was partial high grade tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee), with partial tear of medial collateral ligament (MCL injury is a stretch, partial tear, or complete tear of the ligament on the inside of the knee), lateral collateral ligament (LCL in knee), and medial retinaculum (a tendon of the knee that crosses the knee joint on the medial side of the patella. It plays important roles in the formation of the fibrous capsule of the knee and in the extension of the knee joint), horizontal tear in the posterior horn of medial meniscus with moderate joint effusion and Femoral and Tibial condylar Bone Marrow contusion. He was advised surgery for the same followed by physiotherapy and weight bearing.
Post treatment, the footballer recovered very well and is back into sports following all the precautions as advised to him. A few cases (mostly with complete tear of ACL) have to completely give up sports, as any form of rigorous and twisting activity can make the joint very unstable. Although they may become pain free and comfortable enough to carry on their day to day activities without any hassle, they would have to restrict themselves with respect to certain rigorous sport and activity.
This is the usual scenario we come across. People come to the Ayurvedic surgeons after doing their homework and seek for a non-surgical management of the said condition. Can we do something then? The answer is YES! After thorough examination of the patient and analysis of their reports, intensive in-patient care is all what is required for the patients for 3-4 weeks. The main aim of all the treatments is to reduce inflammation, promote healing, increase vascularity, provide stability with adequate rest and, prevent stiffness and repetitive stress on the affected joint.
