Rising back and neck pain epidemic among B'luru youth linked to sedentary lifestyles and poor posture

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: The prevalence of back and neck pain among people aged 18-30 years in India has increased from 20% in 2005 to 30% in 2015, according to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

This rise is attributed to several factors such as increased use of technology leading to a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture, obesity, stress, and injuries from sports or car accidents. The extensive use of computers, laptops, and mobile phones has resulted in a lack of physical activity leading to an increase in back and neck issues.

Furthermore, stress, obesity and injuries also contribute to the rising cases of back and neck pain among the younger population in India. Over 800,000 people in Bengaluru are IT employees and more than half of the population are people below the age of 30.

IT employees in Bengaluru who travel long distances and sit at their desks for long hours are at risk of developing neck and back pain. According to experts, back and neck pain may seem like a temporary issue, but it can have a long-term impact on the body. Many IT employees complain of frequent back pain, and some have even become accustomed to it.

Driving on bad roads for long periods of time can also contribute to neck and back pain. An IT employee from Bengaluru who works almost 10 hours a day said that he has unbearable back pain because he sits in front of a computer for 10 hours and spends 2 hours each day commuting on Bengaluru's roads.