Going on padayatra? Here are some do's & don'ts to prevent health issues
Politicians and their followers must stay cautious of their pre-existing health conditions to ensure successful completion of padayatras.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 1 Sep 2021 3:34 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Staying physically active is a good habit and walking every day is possibly the best way to remain in the pink of health. However, overdoing anything (like excessive walking or exercising) could prove a disaster to a person's health. It is important that one takes proper precautions and seeks the right advice from experts before embarking on a long and sustained physical exertion regimen like undertaking long marathon walks aka padayatras.
Before the start of or during an election season, politicians embark on activities like marathon walks and padayatras. They continue walking for days and at times months together to ensure they cover the maximum area on foot. While some politicians might be working on their physical strength before embarking on such padayatras, many followers of these politicians resort to doing the same without much preparation. Lack of preparedness causes severe damage to physical health which could even lead to partial or permanent damage.
Dr. Kolla Saketh, consultant sports, joint replacement and regenerative orthopaedic surgeon at Gleneagles Global Hospitals, has the following advice for those who undertake padayatras:
Padayatra may commonly trigger orthopaedic issues namely:
Ā· Knee pains (Osteoarthritis) (majority) due to meniscus tears, cartilage wearing, ligament injury, leg pains (shin splints), heel pains (Achilles Tendonitis), foot pain (Plantar Fasciitis), muscle pain and cramps (Fibromyalgia), stress fractures in foot, back pain, and recurrence of any old injury.
Ā· Certain simple steps could help prevent orthopaedic issues during the padayatra, like pre-padayatra orthopaedic clinical and radiological checkup by sports medicine surgeons, clinical examination to assess any old injury or any orthopaedic issues due to ageing, and x-rays and MRI scan if necessary.
Ā· Physical actions like warm-up and proper tone-up of muscles, doing muscle strengthening exercises, training for at least a month before the padayatra, and posture correction will help a great deal. Selecting the right kind of footwear like sports shoes with softer material silicone insoles or micro-cellular rubber material is a must. Knee braces with proper padding will provide much-needed support during marathon walks.
Ā· Some preventive and strength-providing medicines will act as aides to build the body for the rigorous act. Knowing Vitamin D3 and Calcium levels, along with correcting electrolyte imbalance, are important. Medications must be taken to ensure these levels are maintained to optimum standards before and during the padayatra. Gel injections into knees for effective lubrication is one of the latest available solutions to maintain joints health. Injections in advance into affected areas along with taping and strapping will help in faster recovery.
Ā· The presence of a sports medicine doctor during the yatra and his/her consultation will help a great deal. Sticking to fixed hours of walking and sticking to a schedule with reasonable rest and intermittent breaks will go a long way. Avoiding walking on uneven surfaces is necessary to avoid any slips or muscle catches. Proper hydration, a nutritious and balanced diet, multi-vitamin supplements, including Vitamin E and Levocarnitine, are highly recommended during the walk.
