Potholed roads in Bengaluru leading to back pain among riders

BENGALURU: Bengaluru, once known as the Silicon City, has now become infamous for its potholed roads. The city’s roads are filled with craters, making it a hazardous journey for vehicle owners. Not only do the potholes cause damage to vehicles, inviting danger to life, but they also lead to long-term health issues such as back and neck pain.

Dr Mohan Jadav, a spine specialist, notes that there has been an increase in the number of patients visiting hospitals with complaints of back pain. When asked about the cause, many patients attribute it to driving on bad roads, especially long rides.

The doctor adds that the number of patients visiting the OPD with back and neck pain has increased, and it’s no longer just an issue for older adults, but also for young and middle-aged individuals.

The current-day lifestyle and lack of attention to bone health are contributing factors to the increasing number of cases.

Dr Mohan Jadav said, “At least 150 to 200 outpatients visit the hospital every day, including orthopaedic cases. Out of them, 15 pc -20 pc of patients have back pain and neck pain. Earlier, patients who have sciatica (that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the back of each leg) visited hospitals more. We could see cases of back and neck pain in elder people especially in women, but nowadays it has become common in youngsters also. The major reasons would be lack of exercise, lifestyle, work pressure, long rides and restlessness. Such cases may be seen more in these days”.