Back Pain Weighing You Down? Rising Epidemic Linked to Prolonged Work Hrs, Poor Posture & New-Age Lifestyle

Do you find yourself repeatedly lamenting about that troublesome back pain? You are not alone.

In fact, there is an alarming increase in spine or back pain cases among Indians, syncing along with the global epidemic of lower back pain.

In orthopaedic clinics or spine specialists’ offices, there are two distinct groups of patients. The first group comprises elderly individuals dealing with fractures, age-related issues, or posture problems. The second group, which is more concerning, consists of young patients ranging from 20 to 40 years of age.

Blame the long working hours at desk jobs and poor sitting posture followed by lack of exercise. To prevent the alarming rise, experts advise restricted use of mobile phones, especially for children, proper use of back supports and ergonomically designed work desks.

“The surge in spinal problems in India is concerning, and it’s largely a consequence of our evolving lifestyles,” Dr Vikas Tandon, chief of spine services at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi, said.

Over the last two to three years, Tandon has noticed an increase of around 30 per cent in patients seeking treatment for spine-related issues. “Unhealthy lifestyles, prolonged hours in poor postures at sedentary jobs, relentless stress, and the adverse effects of environmental degradation are all contributing factors.”

Other physicians also shared a similar observation.

Dr HS Chabbra, Chief of Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, told News18 that he has observed “a significant increase” in patients seeking treatment for spine-related issues. “To address these concerns, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle,” he advised.

Similarly, Dr Aman Dua, director, joint replacement and orthopaedics at Fortis Escorts in Okhla, has noticed almost 50 to 60 per cent of patients coming with complaints of pain in the back, primarily lower back and neck.

“Spine-related issues are definitely increasing at a fast rate,” he said, adding that another important presentation is neck pain, developing because of excessive use of mobile phones, leading to a condition known as “tech neck”.

Epidemic of low back pain is “escalating”: Lancet

According to a study published in The Lancet Rheumatology in June, the global epidemic of low back pain is “escalating”.

“A staggering 619 million people worldwide suffered from low back pain in 2020 (nearly 10 per cent of the world’s population), and by 2050, that number is expected to reach 843 million,” it said.

Furthermore, it forecasted that the surge in cases would predominantly occur in Asia and Africa.

“The latest figures on low back pain prevalence, which come from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, show that the most dramatic growth in prevalence will be in Asia and Africa where social support systems and health-care systems are often under-resourced and overburdened.”

Preventive measures & treatment options

Experts suggest that the treatment of back pain lies in prevention as degenerative changes are tough to treat.

Doctors believe that it’s crucial to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

“Good or proper sitting posture is of the utmost importance,” Dua said while suggesting that regular exercises and stretching, including at work, can keep the muscles soft and healthy.

Tandon from the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre said various groups of people, particularly those with desk-bound professions, are at a higher risk.

He also advised regular exercise and maintaining correct posture. “This can go a long way in preventing spine problems.”

“For those already affected, early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, including physiotherapy, lifestyle modifications, and minimally invasive surgeries when necessary, offer hope for recovery,” he added.

Chabbra said regular conditioning exercise like walking, treadmill, sports, swimming, aerobics, jogging, and running help prevent spine problems.

“Additionally, managing stress through relaxation techniques is essential. When it comes to treatment, early diagnosis and management of not only the pain but also causes like bad posture, sedentary lifestyle, and others are vital.”

Calcium supplementation and a healthy body weight are also important lifestyle modifications.

Doctors generally use non-surgical approaches like pharmacological pain management physiotherapy, local heat or ice packs, counter-irritant gel, and lifestyle modifications to yield positive results.

“Surgery is considered in severe cases that do not respond or are associated with red flags like fever, loss of bowel bladder control etc,” Chabbra said.