R ARIVANANTHAM
COIMBATORE, NOV 8
Rotary Club of Coimbatore Central & Ganga Hospital on Wednesday felicitated K Muthuraja (33) for winning two bronze medals in shot put (10.42m) and discus throw (35.06m) in the Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou China. They also felicitated his coach Muruga Prabhu.
- While working in a mill in Kovai in 2016, Muthuraja unfortunately had a fall from a height and suffered two major high velocity injuries
- Ganga Spine Injury Rehabilitation Centre raises the hope of many a Muthurajas to lead a purposeful life
- There are more than 35,000 people with severe spinal cord injuries in India every year
A resounding applause for remarkable Muthuraja for the Bronze Medal victory.
Congratulations on this great achievement in Men's Discus Throw-F54/55/56. This exceptional performance is a testament to his dedication and spirit. India is proud of you! pic.twitter.com/vvPTXhh5G3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2023
While working in a mill in Kovai in 2016, Muthuraja unfortunately had a fall from a height and suffered two major high velocity injuries viz unstable fracture of the thoracolumbar spine and severe injury of the pelvis and hips. The fracture of the spine unfortunately injured his spinal cord which left him completely paraplegic and wheelchair bound.
He was immediately operated in Ganga Hospital which stabilised the spine so that rehabilitation could be started. Following the healing of the wounds, he was transferred to Ganga Spine Injury Rehabilitation Centre where he partially recovered, but still required wheel-chair mobilisation. Little had he thought that he would be a sportsperson till the accident.
After nearly two years of treatment, Muthuraja identified his potential in the sports field in the rehab centre. Following intensive training under coach Yuraja & Physiotherapist Muruga Prabhu, he started practising shot put and discus throw in 2018 and was selected for state and national games. His life changed when he made a record in the national shot put event in Pune by throwing 10.19m breaking the previous record of 10.14 m. There was no looking back for Muthuraja as wheels of fortune smiled on him in the form of winning two medals for the nation.
Ganga Spine Injury Rehabilitation Centre raises the hope of many a Muthurajas
Commenting on the indomitable spirit and feat of Muthuraja, Dr Rajasekaran, Director, Ganga Hospital said, “Muthuraja’s story is an inspiration for other spinal cord injured patients on how well they can perform. It is also a lesson that why patients with spinal cord injuries must take proper treatment which allows them to perform to their fullest ability. An early and definitive surgery is very important to give a stable spine that allows them to start rehabilitation very early.”
“The surgery that Muthuraja underwent involved placement of multiple titanium screws and two rods which brought the spinal column to position and stabilised the spine. Otherwise, the spine is always weak and giving rise to pain which will not allow strengthening programs. It is notable that following the surgery, the spine could take the severe stress that is involved with both discus and shotput throws which puts a severe demand on the spine. We plan for expansion of the rehabilitation centre into a Paralympic sports training centre so that many more Muthurajas will emerge. This is very important because there are more than 35,000 people with severe spinal cord injuries in India every year,” Dr Rajasekaran added.
Rotary Club of Coimbatore Central well equips rehab centre
Thanks to Global Grant Projects of the Rotary International through the Rotary Club of Coimbatore Central, Ganga Spine Injury Rehabilitation Centre has many advanced equipments, including the state-of-the art expensive machines. These projects have helped to update the centre with facilities matching the West and also provided a hydrotherapy pool which facilitates quick muscle recovery, body balance and rehabilitation.
Ashwin, President, Rotary Club of Coimbatore Central welcomed the gathering and Ramani Shankar, leading architect and member of Rotary Central offered felicitations and also elaborated on the need for such centres.
