Preventing Pain Before It Starts Is India’s Next Health Imperative

Imagine a country where millions of people start their day already burdened by backaches, stiff necks, aching knees or nagging fatigue. These are not necessarily the signs of age or injury, but the invisible toll of daily routines, poor posture, and work conditions that steadily chip away at health. In India, where non-communicable diseases already dominate the national health burden, musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain have quietly become widespread, eroding quality of life and productivity. The problem is not that solutions don’t exist; it’s that most interventions arrive too late. We wait until pain becomes unbearable or movement is restricted before seeking help. What India needs is a decisive shift towards prevention, towards ergonomic and mobility aids that can stop orthopaedic issues before they arise.

The scale of the problem is staggering. A 2018 study estimated that nearly one in five Indian adults, about 19.3 percent, live with chronic pain, with women disproportionately affected at 25.2 percent. Low back pain alone has been reported in anywhere between 42 percent and 83 percent of different population groups across the country, according to a recent cross-sectional study. This is not simply a matter of discomfort. Musculoskeletal disorders contribute heavily to lost workdays, reduced productivity, and long-term disability. Among healthcare professionals, almost 49.7 percent report lower back pain and 36.5 percent suffer from neck pain, as found in a survey of doctors and nurses. 

Industrial workers and artisans face even higher risks. In one study, nearly 46 percent of workers attributed their pain to heavy manual labour and 38 percent to prolonged standing, while 30 percent cited poor ergonomic setups and 44 percent lack of exercise. The situation is particularly dire in informal and traditional professions. In Kutch district, around 60 percent of handloom weavers suffer from musculoskeletal issues due to repetitive movements, while street cobblers in Vadodara report chronic pain from years of awkward postures on the ground, a problem serious enough that researchers developed a mobile ergonomic workstation to ease their misery.

The tragedy is that most of these conditions are preventable. Ergonomic interventions and mobility aids, when introduced early, can dramatically reduce the risk of chronic pain and orthopaedic issues. Take the example of cobblers in Gujarat: researchers designed a mobile workstation that replaced the floor-seated posture with an ergonomic setup, significantly easing musculoskeletal strain. 

For artisans and weavers, simple changes such as adjustable seating, lumbar support, or improved tool design can make the difference between a lifelong struggle with pain and a sustainable livelihood. In healthcare, where doctors and nurses often suffer silently, supportive footwear, ergonomic stools, and posture training could drastically reduce injury rates. Prevention, in these cases, is not only cheaper than treatment but also life-changing in terms of quality of work and life.

However, India is not starting from scratch. Government programs like the Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) and the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) have already distributed thousands of mobility aids. In Bhagalpur alone, 1,720 residents recently received free wheelchairs, walking frames, crutches, and hearing aids, significantly improving independence for the elderly and differently-abled. Mobile healthcare models are also gaining ground, such as the “care on wheels” initiative in Maharashtra that brings diagnostics and medicines directly to underserved communities. On the technology front, low-cost posture monitoring systems that use Android phones are being tested to alert users when they slouch or sit for too long. Meanwhile, India’s medical device market is expanding rapidly, projected to hit US$50 billion by 2025 with a 37 percent CAGR, creating space for indigenous ergonomic and mobility solutions. 

The urgency to invest in prevention is underscored by India’s fragile healthcare infrastructure. Public health spending stands at just 2.1 percent of GDP, among the lowest globally. Treating chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders at scale would overwhelm this system. Preventive strategies, by contrast, keep people healthy enough to avoid hospitalization in the first place. Beyond healthcare, the economic benefits are undeniable. Pain and disability lead to absenteeism, loss of skilled labour, and lower productivity. In a labour-intensive economy like India’s, even modest improvements in workplace ergonomics can translate into outsized economic returns. For a handloom weaver, it could mean years more of productive work. For a nurse, it could mean fewer days lost to back pain. For a corporate employee, it could mean sharper focus and higher output without the constant distraction of discomfort.

The ecosystem is also ripe for innovation. With the medical device sector booming and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission creating a connected health infrastructure, the opportunity to integrate preventive tools into daily life has never been greater. What is needed now is a coordinated push that combines government support, private sector innovation, and widespread public awareness.

This shift must begin with a cultural change. Ergonomics should no longer be viewed as a luxury reserved for corporate offices but as a necessity across all professions and households. Awareness campaigns should position posture, mobility, and preventive aids alongside fitness and nutrition as pillars of health. Employers must take responsibility for worker wellbeing, making ergonomic interventions part of safety standards. Policymakers should incentivize adoption through subsidies or regulatory frameworks, while innovators focus on designing solutions that are affordable, scalable, and relevant to India’s diverse workforce. Most importantly, the impact of preventive measures must be studied and documented in the Indian context, building the evidence base that can guide national policy.

India today stands at a crossroads. One path continues the reactive cycle, waiting for pain, injury, and disability before taking action, overburdening both individuals and the healthcare system. The other path recognizes that prevention is not only cheaper but also more humane, enabling people to live fuller, healthier lives. By embracing ergonomic and mobility aids as integral to public health strategy, India can not only reduce chronic pain and orthopaedic issues but also unleash a healthier, more productive workforce. Beyond fitness, prevention is the real key to a future where health is not just the absence of disease but the presence of comfort, mobility, and strength in everyday life.