Player-coach-doctor interaction gaining importance — Dr Bergfeld

The presence of the Medical Director of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation –reputed for spine specialists — inevitably raised the topic of Sachin Tendulkar, the debate about the seemingly disprorportionate weight of his bat to his physique and his much-publicised problematic back problem.

From the superficial available information, Dr Bergfeld commented: “I don’t think the weight of the bat could be a problem if he has been playing with it and felt comfortable all along his career. It’s the mechanics of the swing which is most important.”

Stating the interaction between the coach-player-doctor (sports medicine specialist) is increasingly becoming more important, Dr Bergfeld said the bio-mechanics of the player can be videotaped and digitaised at performance levels to diagnose technique that cause physiological distress. Such diagnosis can be analysed with the coach and player to make necessary alterations.

The point that Dr Bergfeld underlined in no uncertain terms was the rest factor for sportspersons. “A body can take only this much and no further. It’s important for all sportspersons to take their mind off from their chosen sports and playing some other sports. Top-level sportspersons need about four months lay-off,” he said.

Dr Bergfeld’s comments only underlined the flood of desi opinion that the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s motto of “maximum cricket, minimum rest” is driving the national cricketers into premature extinction.