Second Opinion

With Ishant having worked his way back to fitness ahead of the first Test in Melbourne,the BCCI might just have escaped copping another round of criticism on injury mismanagement. For this they’d need to thank the lesser explored remedies that they have been shying away from — or rather not enthusiastically encouraging.

Unconventional procedures

The Indian board has successfully managed to tackle players hiding injuries or carrying niggles on tour. But the BCCI is now confronted with a whole new problem — of deciding between established procedures and alternative therapies for treatment. It has steadfastly supported conventional surgical remedies as the only solutions to treat an injury all these years. But given the recent spate of injuries where cricketers have turned up fit,quicker than expected,and openly advocated miraculous benefits of alternative therapies,the board has gradually turned less dismissive of these.

Cricketers are often spotted bearing pen-marks over their hands or behind the neck — designated places of nerve pressure even as players increasingly rely on alternative therapies like reflexology,accupuncture,magnetotherapy,osteopathy,Ingham method,naturotherapy,ayurveda and spiritual healing. These allow them to return to fitness and provide relief from pain which they can judge for themselves,and even avoid surgeries,in some cases.

Ishant’s recent case is another reminder of a curious situation faced by the BCCI,while in the past Yuvraj Singh,Sachin Tendulkar and S Sreesanth have all opted for out-of-the-box therapies and returned to playing,avoiding surgeries they were advised. Yuvraj had famously staved off knee surgery while Sreesanth credited ayurveda for steering clear of a shoulder operation before the last tour to South Africa. Gautam Gambhir was cured of his chronic hamstring problem after a visit to Sri Lanka’s miracle doctor,Eliyantha White.

Choudhary,whose client list includes Yuvraj,Tendulkar,Ishant,Murali Kartik and Joginder Sharma says parallel treatments are now fast expanding. “Even following surgeries,doctors are not 100 per cent sure that players can take the field. But with alternative therapies,we can even repair ACL tears without going under a knife. Normally,we ask the patient to get an MRI done before the treatment and one after to show the results for themselves,” says Choudhary. “I’ve treated ACL tears in 20 days. In Ishant’s case,he had a 3mm abnormal bone growth. After 15 days of laser treatment,it was just 1mm. Surgery needs rehab; here it happens simultaneously. The player makes a comeback within no time.”

Freedom of choice

Cricketers suggest that they are acquainted with various treatments,and should be given the freedom of choosing their own path to recovery. “If we can scientifically prove that the treatment is working,then I don’t see why there is a problem. Moreover,most of these remedies are well-known and acknowledged,” says a Team India cricketer.

The BCCI,meanwhile,has followed a set practice in dealing with their embattled wounded. “There is no policy as such on injury management,” says BCCI’s CAO Prof. Ratnakar Shetty. “But we have a system in place which every injured player has to go through. He must report to our physiotherapist in the NCA and there they get all medical things done,” he says. “We even take specialist’s help if required. If a player feels he needs a second opinion,they can go for it.”

Not just on the cricket field,cricketers have also referred to these other doctors for various problems — Yuvraj had consulted Choudhary to detect the tumour in his lung.

“In Yuvraj’s case,earlier doctors said the tumour was dangerous and life threatening but a physical assessment in our therapy suggested it was non-malignant. We are here to help the cricketers,and the BCCI should take our help,” adds Choudhary.

Lanka’s Dr White,former personal physician to the president and known as a wonder worker in cricketing circles,has also treated several India cricketers,including Tendulkar,Gambhir and Ashish Nehra,apart from several first-class cricketers during the IPL. In fact,several franchisees have also personally contacted Dr White and sent their players for a quick recovery. “Players don’t have enough time to sit out and nurse injuries. So,it’s up to others to make an opinion about my treatment style and effectiveness,” says Dr White. “You can check the treatment scientifically through MRIs.”

‘Keep NCA in the loop’

The board,though,was miffed with Sreesanth,who was considered a possible replacement seamer for Australia but was ruled out with a toe injury,when they learnt that the seamer was undergoing ayurvedic treatment. The BCCI immediately asked him to report to the NCA in Bangalore. “I did a bit of ayurveda and the pain has really come down. I was advised surgery but didn’t go for it because the last time I did ayurvedic treatment,it really helped and I never had to go for it. I have consulted the same doctor,” Sreesanth was quoted as saying.

Shetty though says that the board will approach this pragmatically. “We can’t force our players to go for surgery. After all it’s their decision,if they feel that by taking other therapies they can come back fit,then the BCCI has no problem. But they have to inform the NCA of their second options,” he says. “Apart from that,it is the player’s call. We just guide them.”

On return,every player is expected to pass fitness tests,followed by a MRI scan. Recuperating players then must get a clearance from the NCA before making a comeback. “From our side,we do the job,” Shetty says.

Doping fears

One can’t blame the BCCI. The fears crop up from stringent anti-doping measures that are now in place. Incidentally,Dr White was allegedly in the dock as the man responsible for administering banned substances to Upul Tharanga,Lanka’s opening batsman,who failed a drug test while a few boxers and shot putters also tested positive after banned substances were found in their skin,thanks to the prescribed massage oil.

Dr PSM Chandran,sports medicine expert,agrees only partly with these concerns. “Alternative therapies rely mostly on medications and through massage,either by oil or other external methods. Cricketers should be cautious. The WADA recognises only allopathy medicine and it has a list of prohibitive substances,” he says. Dr Chandran gave the example of weightlifter Kunjarani Devi testing positive for a banned substance she denied ever taking. Later it was found out that the substance was found in an ayurvedic chavanprash.

Cricketers may not be subject to constant scrutiny,given the ‘special’ status with WADA currently. However there might be pressure on the BCCI in the coming days to bring less popular medicine on board.

“The players can try whatever they feel is good for them,” says Shetty. “But we don’t know if we will imbibe it as of now.” Until then,alternative medicine will continue to remain the ‘other’ one.