Launched on the eve of World Spine Day, the new public campaign and doctor-reviewed website aim to help Indians prevent back and neck problems and know when to seek care
Ahmedabad, 15 October 2026: Indospine Hospital today launched #MySpineMyWorld, a spine care awareness initiative, along with its website, myspinemyworld.com, at a press conference at the Ahmedabad Management Association. In a unique gesture, the website was launched by spine patients treated at Indospine Hospital, people who know first-hand what living with a spine problem means. The initiative was presented by Dr Tarak Patel, Chief Spine Surgeon, and Dr Rinku Patel, Anaesthesia and Pain Management Specialist, Indospine Hospital.
Dr Tarak Patel, Chief Spine Surgeon, Indospine Hospital, said: “Every day we meet young professionals, homemakers and students who have lived with back or neck pain for months before seeking help. Our own records show that more than four in ten of our new patients are now between 20 and 45, and 94% of them were treated without hospital admission. Most spine problems do not need surgery. The right diagnosis, at the right time, lets us treat the cause instead of just the pain. With #MySpineMyWorld, we want people to understand their spine, take small steps every day, and come to a doctor before a simple problem becomes a serious one.”
Dr Rinku Patel, Anaesthesia and Pain Management Specialist, Indospine Hospital, said: “Many people try to live with pain or rely on painkillers for too long. Pain is a signal, and it deserves attention. Through this initiative, we will share practical advice on managing pain safely and explain the warning signs, such as numbness, weakness or pain that keeps you awake at night, that mean you should see a specialist without delay.”
The initiative offers simple, doctor-reviewed guidance on posture, movement and everyday habits, and explains which warning signs need a doctor’s attention.
The launch was timed for World Spine Day, observed every year on 16 October to raise awareness of spinal health, prevention and access to quality care. The 2026 World Spine Day campaign of the World Federation of Chiropractic is “Spine Health for Life”, a message that #MySpineMyWorld will carry forward in Gujarat and across India.
Back pain is one of the most common health problems in India, and it is affecting people younger than many expect. A meta-analysis of 97 Indian studies, published in the journal WORK in 2022, found that about one in two Indians has low back pain at any given time and two in three will have it during their lifetime, higher than global figures. Women, rural residents and manual workers were the most affected.
The problem is not limited to old age. A 2025 study of 16,866 back-pain patients across 18 states, published in the journal Cureus, found that 43% were aged 18 to 38 and 68% were women.
Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), low back pain is the single leading cause of disability. It affected 619 million people in 2020, and cases are projected to reach 843 million by 2050, with the greatest growth expected in Asia and Africa. The good news is that most back pain can be managed. About 90% of cases have no specific underlying disease, and WHO lists physical activity, a healthy body weight, good sleep and workplace ergonomics among the ways to prevent repeat episodes.
Indospine Hospital’s own patient records show the same shift in Gujarat. Of 8,789 new patients who came to Indospine between October 2022 and October 2026, more than four in ten (41%) were aged 20 to 45 at their first visit. Their share has grown every year, from 35% in 2022–23 to 43% in 2025–26, while patients under 40 rose from 23% to 30% of new patients. Encouragingly, 94% of patients aged 20 to 45 were treated without needing hospital admission. Women made up 54% of all new patients.
The change mirrors how Gujarat now works and lives. GIFT City alone supports about 27,000 jobs today and aims for one lakh by 2030, while state policies target around 1.5 lakh more IT and global capability centre jobs. A Gujarat study of people using computers for at least four hours a day found that 53% reported pain in the hand, neck or back, and a study at an Ahmedabad hospital found that prolonged sitting, frequent bending and regularly lifting more than 10 kg were significant risk factors for back and neck pain. About one in five adults in Gujarat is overweight or obese, according to NFHS-5, and in 2024 Ahmedabad city recorded 1,586 road accidents in which 1,269 people were injured, according to NCRB, a reminder that spine injuries on the road are also a local concern.
#MySpineMyWorld is built on a simple idea: your spine carries your whole world, so it deserves daily care. The campaign focuses on prevention, early awareness and timely treatment rather than fear.
The website, myspinemyworld.com, brings this together in one place. It offers doctor-reviewed articles in plain language across six topics: Know Your Spine, Posture & Work, Move Better, Pain & Care, Myths vs Facts and Real Stories. It also features simple exercises for office workers, drivers, students and older adults, a two-minute self-check to help people spot habits that strain the spine, and the #MySpineMyWorld pledge, through which people commit to one spine-friendly habit and share it with family and friends. The public is invited to join the conversation on social media using #MySpineMyWorld.
