Rendezvous with Dr. Harini Priyadharshini Muralidharan

Dr. Harini is a sports medicine practitioner, currently working for Royal Challengers Bangaluru Women’s IPL team where she’s working in a dual role as the Team Manager & Doctor. She has done her MBBS at Saveetha University, Chennai and my Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine at Queen Mary University of London.

She believes that the key to the success of any team is with the players, every cog has its role, however small or big and needs to be valued, and respected and the effects are augmented by every other cog to make the machine run right. With that in mind, she works with the teams, as a team player who works alongside and gets her hands dirty rather than a leader who sends instructions.

What was the pivotal moment that ignited your passion for sports?

A: I can’t really think of one moment since it was a culmination of many. Being the daughter of a cardiologist, I was able to grasp the basics of ECG sooner than the rest of my batchmates. In my third year, a friend of mine who was a cricketer had asked me to have a look at his ECG because his GP had told him that something was wrong. I felt something was wrong too because I could see signs of hypertrophy. I asked my father and he asked me to read up on an athlete’s heart. That was my first exposure to how the physiology of an athlete varies and what could be fatal for an average man, could be normal for a sportsperson. That was my first trigger and what cemented it further was during my Ortho postings, I felt like not all surgeries that were done were actually required. Lack of physiotherapy and post-op care would sometimes put the patient in a much worse situation than before. My observation during this time was an opening into sports medicine.

Reflecting on your journey from Saveetha University in Chennai to Queen Mary University of London and now to your role with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, what are some of the most memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your perspective on medicine, sports, and life in general?

A: There have been a lot of independent learning curves throughout my journey. I wasn’t too keen on getting into medicine earlier but once you’re in, I think medical college teaches you a lot about empathy, valuing what you have and so much about life in general. The experience altogether makes you an adult way sooner. From there, doing my Master’s in the UK was enriching. Not speaking of the subject alone, but it is more of guiding rather than teaching so you learn on your own. I have been an RCB fangirl all my life so from there to actually working for the team, standing in front of these celebrities as a professional was something else. My takeaways from my journey would be that you constantly have to work on bettering yourself because your only competition is you!

Could you share a memorable experience where you witnessed the transformative power of movement and physical activity in improving someone’s health or quality of life, either on or off the field?

A: It was on a client who was over 70 years old and had met with a debilitating accident. She had multiple fractures of her lower limb and skull as well. She was bedridden but the patient’s family never gave up on physiotherapy. With continuous efforts, just 6 months post-op, her movement is quite better though her memory and cognitive skills were still developing. She was able to move around and carry on her daily activities which proves the power of physical therapy.

How can the principles of sports medicine be adapted to address the unique challenges and needs of the general population, especially in promoting physical activity and injury prevention in diverse demographics?

A: My philosophy is that everyone is an athlete. Sports science basically involves movement patterns and as living beings, a major part of what we do is locomote. Each aspect of sports science can be applied to the general population. Especially now where physical activities have drastically reduced, joints are aging sooner and muscles are getting atrophied sooner. I therefore feel that if promoted adequately, sports science will make a huge difference among the general population. It’s so much beyond post-op rehabilitation or something tailored for athletes. There are so many ways in which we can condition or train our bodies for our sport so if someone’s sport is being a homemaker, they can also be trained accordingly.

While working with various sportspersons all over the globe, what variations have you observed as far as the diet, lifestyles, and level of fitness are concerned in different parts of the world as compared to India? What are the positive and negative pointers to be noted as far as the Indian sportspersons are concerned?

A: What is uniform among all sportspersons across the globe is that their level of motivation, perseverance and determination is way higher than the general population. Speaking of Indian athletes in particular, you’d see a lot more intensity since the competition is much more here whereas international athletes view it as yet another job so there’s proper work-life balance. Another thing with international athletes is that instructions given with respect to diet and exercise are followed diligently and there’s a lot more self-motivation even while following up with clinicians. While among Indian athletes, the expectation of following up lies on the clinician.

Could you share some insights into the role of nutrition in sports medicine and how dietary strategies can be tailored to optimize performance and recovery for athletes and non-athletes alike?

A: When it comes to athletes, a lot of emphasis is put into their fitness so nutrition plays a very important role. Therefore, it’s of utmost importance to have a well-trained nutritionist to guide them better.

Could you discuss some innovative approaches or technologies you might have encountered in sports medicine that have broader applications beyond professional athletes, particularly in managing chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or other musculoskeletal disorders or neurological disorders?

A: There are many aspects of sports science that can be used in the general population. What we see in post-op rehabilitation is a major involvement of passive physiotherapy whereas in sports science, the approach is more active. Speaking of neurological conditions where sports science can play a crucial role in post-stroke or post-Parkinson’s. Practices like progressive muscular relaxation can actually help patients work on bringing their neurological function back.

How can medical students benefit from incorporating movement and holistic wellness practices into their own lives amidst their hectic schedules?

A: If there’s anyone who should incorporate movement and holistic practices into their lives then it should be medical professionals because we are a group of people who cannot afford to fall sick. Keeping that in mind, we need to focus on our sleep, diet and movement practices. Our work often means back-to-back sleepless nights and that’s all the more reason why we need to take care of ourselves at every opportunity and within our routines, we have to try to incorporate some form of movement as much as possible.

How do you foster a collaborative team environment between players, coaches, and medical staff to ensure comprehensive care and support for athletes, and how might this approach translate to interdisciplinary care for patients with complex health needs?

A: All the people mentioned here are stakeholders in an athlete’s performance therefore communication is key. The medical team needs to communicate openly and prioritize the athlete’s health and then give uniform information to the coaches so that they can make the appropriate decision.

How do you see the field of sports medicine evolving in the future, particularly in its integration with other specialties like rheumatology and neurology, and what opportunities do you foresee for medical students to contribute to this evolving landscape?

A: It is still very nascent within the Indian setup and is yet to evolve wherein people either think of sports medicine as physiotherapy or orthopedics while it is an integration of multiple specialties. Sports cardiology/neurology/dentistry, etc. are emerging in other countries. We can expect this in the near future for India but as of now, sports medicine itself has to be established properly first.

As someone with a passion for continual learning and growth, what advice would you give to aspiring medical students interested in pursuing a career in sports medicine or exploring the therapeutic potential of movement in healthcare?

A: The first advice that I’d give is to put aside your ego because here, the only thing that matters is the athlete’s well-being. Another thing is to try to gain as much practical knowledge as possible. Try to work on your own fitness because it gives you a glimpse of what your athlete is going through and this I feel is a must for anyone interested in sports medicine. Other than that it’s just like any other field, if you’re passionate, you can reach heights!

Interviewed by- Dr. Deep Satiar, Junior Resident, General Surgery, GNDH, Amritsar