CHENNAI: At a time when the ivy league Indian cricket players are reeling from injuries that have pushed them into taking a short hiatus, the spotlight is once again on treatment of sports injuries that could make or break a sportsperson’s career.It is in this backdrop that doctors around the world converged at the Shri Ramachandra Medical College for the Indo-European Arthroscopy Conference, to brainstorm over a possible solution to the numerous niggles that threaten a sportsperson’s career. Whether it is Sachin Tendulkar’s tennis elbow or the shoulder injuries of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, the management of such niggles requires a precise medical intervention and a sound rehabilitation strategy that includes a lot of rest, according to the doctors.Speaking to City Express on the sidelines of the Indo European Arthroscopy, recently organised by Shri Ramachandra Medical College, Dr Jonathan Herald, an eminent orthopaedic surgeon from Australia, prescribes the need for injured players to take adequate rest for complete rehabilitation. Referring to the most common sports injuries, he said that players often endure shoulder instability due to overuse of the shoulder joint — as in the case of baseball players and cricketers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.“Usually players are advised rest for one season (six months) after the surgery and they need to avoid strenuous physical activity for at least three months,” said Dr Herald, who has treated several international sports persons — from baseball players and rock climbers to top- notch rugby players. And he says playing through pain post surgery can only lead to further setbacks.“These players are expected to deliver high level performance, so they stand the risk of making their injury worse or even impossible to play if they continue playing without seeking treatment,” he adds. “Using correct training techniques during pitching, serving and swimming can help a player avoid injuries.” Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure to treat ligament tear of shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, wrist, hip and joint replacement, without affecting the dynamics of the joint — to enable faster recovery.Anirudha Srikkanth, opening batsman for Chennai Super Kings, who has been a consistent performer in Season 4 of the Indian Premier League, concurs. Stating that batsmen are often prone to freak injuries to the back and shoulder, he underscores the importance of core training that could serve as a precautionary measure in avoiding such injuries.On effective management of sports injuries, he says, “Yes, staying fit is mandatory. Moreover, the rehabilitation sessions are also extremely important.”Chennai-based international badminton player, Aditya Elango, agrees too. After undergoing a surgery in his Achilles tendon two years ago, his fitness coach helped him get back into the game with muscle-strengthening exercises. For him, overcoming the fear of performing after the surgery through mental training was the deciding factor.Dr Herald also noted the importance of training potential athletes from a young age, putting them through a planned diet and exercise regime to encourage them to follow a healthy lifestyle.“Indeed, the diet followed by sportspersons plays an important role in helping the player cope with the game without getting physically tired. Moreover, it also hastens the healing process for injured players,” he says.“For a player recovering from sports injury, a diet rich in proteins, iron, zinc, antioxidants as well as vitamin A and C will aid speedy recovery. While vegetarians can opt for milk products, nuts and lentils, non-vegetarians can consume protein-rich red meat,” says nutritionist Shiny, who designs diets for players based on the requirements of their sport.
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