More than 20 percent Vasaikars suffer from back and spine ailments: 35 percent bike riders found with PS and Spondylolisthesis

VASAI, PALGHAR: As a direct take-off due to the bad roads in the Naigaon-Vasai-Nalasopara belt, more than 35 percent of adult males in the age group of 30 to 40 years and residing in the area suffer from LBP or lower back pain.

According to Physiotherapist Dr Gabriel Anton Stephin of the St Mary Advance Care hospital in Vasai West, the incidence and prevalence of LBP has increased by more than 200 percent in the last 10 years and most chronic LBP patients are bike riders or bikers.

Dr Pranav Kabra (MD, Physician) and his team of doctors, including Dr Stephin examined and analysed about 500 adult males between the age of 30 to 45 years in Vasai West, who were commuting by road for more than 10 kms each day. The results were shocking – more than 45 percent of bike riders residing in Vasai had either LBP, PS or Piriformis Syndrome (involuntary muscle spasm), Spondylolisthesis (tail bone problems) and other orthopaedic and musculoskeletal issues and disorders, which over time result in internal injuries requiring hospitalisation and complicated surgery and physiotherapy.

The reasons for the drastic jump in orthopedic conditions are manifold, but rash driving and bad roads make up for about 80 percent of the causes.

With the increasing number of heavy vehicles in the Vasai belt, the condition of inner roads is going from bad to worse. The situation will further deteriorate during the monsoon and citizens are in for a rough ride in the coming months, with several back and spine-related problems.

Stretching exercises, preceded by a proper warm-up for about five minutes twice a day can help bike riders and motorists avoid or at least mitigate such lower back and spinal problems, which can, if unattended to, get worse with age, leading to permanent deformities requiring surgery, opines Dr Kabra.