Sports and games are making a slow come back as the Covid-19 pandemic loosens its clutch over many regions. This is a time when sports personalities and athletes are focussing hard to improve their fitness in their bid to make a “strong comeback”. They are well aware that a prolonged absence due to injuries or disorders can impinge their dreams and waste no time in availing good treatments.

While the debate rages on over the best system of medicine for sport injury treatment, traditional Indian healing systems like Ayurveda have much to offer in this field.

In classical texts of Ayurveda like Charak Samhita, Susrut Samhita and Astang Hridaya, Acharyas mention about ‘Rasayana Chikithsa’ which comes handy in treatment of most of the sports injuries. Originally the treatment aims to sustain youthfulness by maintaining the balance of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The treatment helps in making a person physically and mentally strong by preventing the degeneration of cells. The other benefit is to enhance the reproductive power.

A major share of treatment of sports injuries is over repairing or rectifying damages to the body due to reasons like overexertion or accidents. The conditions include:-

Degeneration of bones

In Ayurveda, it’s known as ‘Vatha Vyadhi’. The line of treatment for ‘Vatha Vyadhi’ cures all degenerative conditions.

Muscle wasting and tendon rupture

This condition occurs when the body fails to get adequate nourishment in proportionate with the physical exertions. The muscles will weaken resulting in tendon rupture. In Ayurveda, the condition is called Shohsam and has specific line of treatment.

Inflammation

Inflammation affects mainly the joints of the body and similar to conditions of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Ayurvedic treatments like Vata Rakta Chikitsa and Amavatha Chikitsa etc are proven effect in curing the conditions. 

Fractures/Sprain

The key to management of fracture is to restore the normal or near to normal structural integrity and physiology of the fractured part, at the earliest, without complications and with minimal complications. Like modern medical science, Ayurveda too prescribes fundamental principles for management of fractures like First Aid, Reduction, Immobilisation and Physiotherapy. Besides, adjuvant therapies like oral medications, Pancha karma and diet regimen have been mentioned. Due consideration to Prakriti (Psycho - somatic constitution) and nutritional status is also provided as part of the treatment.

 By adopting these Ayurvedic principles, many sports injuries can be successfully managed with minimal complications.

(Authors - Dr Khrisikesh and Dr Deepa Shetty, Ayurveda Mana, Palakkad, Kerala)