Holistic Outlook of Traditional Medicine in Sports

Background: In ancient vedic era, sports was adressed as ‘krida’ (playing, skipping) and ‘vyayama’ (toughening up, physical exercise) for ‘exercise’and this demonstrates the ayurvedic principle of balance as too much activity creates imbalance as much as too little.Vyayama (exercise) helps to get rid of heaviness and stiffness of the body as it burns Ama (digestion impurities) and creates more flexibility, lightness, smoothness and easiness which are three pillers of fittness.Sports medicine has two goals to achieve, primarily physical and mental fitness and second goal is treating the sporting injuries of the sportsman. Ayurved can help to achieve both of them through Panchakarma , Yoga , Rasayana,Marma Chikitsa etc and herbs which add extra healing edge to the body injuries.Discipline is a bridge between goals & accomplishment which is very important for any sports person and these rules are explained well in Dincharya,Rtucharya and Ratricharya .Purpose:The present paper intends, in the above context, to identify the possible contribution of Ayurved in the field of sports medicine.The aim of this review is to bring the ayurvedic outlook with various treatment modalities into limelight & factuall research evidence validating it.Methodology:Traditional Medicine recommendations for prevention & curation of injuries in sports were rationally reviewed in light of published information from several scientific articles & literature review from Vedic texts were taken into systemic review study.Conclusion: Ayurvedic therapy with new modern technology in sports if used together,can enhance performance, physical fitness and assist in various sport injuries with several concepts in Ayurveda & rules & regimens for healthy living as a goal for a sports person.