Wellness venture keen to eliminate ‘pain points’ of lifestyle disorders

Sports Performance Assessment Rehabilitation Research Counselling Institute (SPARRC) has come a long way, expanding beyond the metro to make its services available in Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.

Kannan Pugazhendi’s skill-sets aim to integrate traditional and contemporary methods of therapy as part of the healing process, is proving to be a win-win for all stakeholders. In an interaction with DTNext, the doctor talks about how more patients today are opting for treatments that do not require them to go under the scalpel.

From national-level athletes (including 7 or 8 year gymnasts) to Army and police personnel, he has catered to a diverse patient base and from varied age groups, covering the paediatric to the geriatric population (such as 89-year-old athlete Daisy Victor).

Typically lasting a week or a fortnight or even a few months, the treatments come at a seemingly high cost. But Pugazhendi is quick to point out that rather than helping the pharma business thrive, his model is focussed on eliminating the problem by making the patient responsible for their lifestyle choices. The treatment has also helped young Army officers, recuperating from injuries sustained during training or while in operations, to join back the forces, he sought to point out.

Largely the fallout of food habits, stress and inactivity, he feels the range of medical issues can broadly be classified as involving biomechanics, bio chemical and psycho-social disorders. “We look for tell-tale signs so that the focus is on preventive methods rather than pain. Rehabilitation and pain management are the key concerns,” he says, highlighting that these are issues faced by people with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, myocardial infarction and cancer.

“We have 16 centres, of which eight of them are concentrated in Chennai and three in Bengaluru,” says the doctor, as he outlines Sparrc’s purpose and the implications of the changing the modern day lifestyle, that has driven thousands of individuals to explore their service. “Instead of relying on radiological and pharmacological support systems, we understand the individual and treat by gradually making the patient responsible for lifestyle management,” he says. Many

Pugazhendi’s concern is the onset of inactivity in the last 10-15 years, that has resulted in a worrisome statistic – 60 per cent of people suffering from cardio vascular problems. After 2010, it has been observed that young adults are unable to outlive their parents. “It is a choice-based approach. While awareness on exercise has been gaining momentum, the flip side is more women – working, moving out of work or those in homemaker roles are complaining of knee and back pain issues. At least 70 to 80 per cent of the cases are owing to computer-based exposure,” laments the doctor. Sparrc has 250 physios across centres and a handful of sports physicians apart from nutritionists. Interestingly, its not-for-profit arm, the Indian Institute of Sports Medicine (IISM), has a 2-year programme for doctors. “The first batch of doctors will pass out in March with exposure to acupuncture, yoga and kalaripayattu,” says Pugazhendi, a practitioner, who believes in integrating traditional methods with modern medicine for effective outcomes.

Incidentally, it is his son Pradhyum, pursuing football in right earnest at Spain, that has led the husband-wife team to think of opening a centre there. “It is important to be in the ecosystem that would allow the talent to flourish. As we speak, my wife is there taking care of him, while also exploring the possibility of opening up a centre in that country,” signs of Pugazhendi.