Health Experts Urge Prevention Instead of Treatment as Cases of Herniated Disc and Sciatica Rise
Traffic gridlock from Baloch Colony Expressway to Qayyumabad Chowrangi in Karachi on Thursday. PHOTO: EXPRESS
For millions of Karachi residents, motorcycles remain the most affordable and efficient means of transportation; However, health experts say the city’s deteriorating infrastructure and battered roads, riddled with potholes and uneven patches, are causing serious spinal damage to cyclists.
It was in 2023 when Tariq, 37, an employee of Sir Syed University’s sports department, felt a sudden pain in his lower back. “The pain was unbearable, I couldn’t even ride my motorbike while returning home. A colleague had to drop me off,” Tariq recalls. An MRI later revealed nerve compression between the L4 and L5 vertebrae, which doctors warned could lead to chronic back problems if left untreated. “The doctor asked me if I sat for a lot of hours, but I told him I’m an athlete,” says Tariq. “That’s when he said the real reason was my daily motorcycle rides.”
Physiotherapist Dr Faizan explains, “If someone rides a bicycle from North Karachi to Korangi or Gulshan-e-Hadeed daily, this posture puts the cyclist under constant stress.” Additionally, he notes, “continuous shaking affects spinal alignment and muscle balance.” The doctor highlighted the poor condition of the city’s roads and the lack of maintenance of bicycle shock absorbers aggravates the situation.
Dr. Majid, another physiotherapist, points out that many of the young patients who visit his clinic with back pain or herniated discs usually travel by motorcycle. “Frequent shaking mainly affects the lower lumbar region L4, L5, S1 and S2,” he mentioned. “The spine absorbs shocks that eventually cause stiffness and chronic pain.”
According to the Pakistan Orthopedic Association (POA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 40 percent of adults in urban areas suffer from musculoskeletal pain. A 2022 study by Dow University also found that 60 percent of motorcyclists in Karachi suffer from lower back pain.
Meanwhile, at the Health Asia Expo 2025, a German product called ‘Spine Fitter’ was launched in Pakistan. The device is silicone-based, designed to help realign the spine and relieve tension with just 10 minutes of daily use. The ‘Spine Fitter’ works by using a unique shape with parallel balls to provide mechanical stimulation and deep pressure to both sides of the spine, helping to massage and loosen tight muscles and fascia.
Amjad, distribution manager of the product, says, “This is the first time such a product has been launched in Pakistan and is particularly useful for people who sit or cycle for long hours.” However, Dr Majid warns that the product is not suitable for everyone, saying: “It is effective for young users, but those over 50 should be careful as lying down to exercise may be difficult for them.”
Tariq notes that physical exercise can relieve pain and says it took him more than a year and a half to recover with multiple sessions of physical therapy and chiropractic. “I tried painkillers, oils and stretching, but eventually I started playing badminton, which helped strengthen my back,” he says.
Similarly, Zahid Ahmed, 40, said he stopped cycling for a month after he developed back pain, and turned to football as a remedy. “At first, the pain got worse, but regular exercise eliminated it completely without causing pain.”
Dr Faizan, however, emphasized prevention rather than treatment. He pointed out that “before taking medicine or surgery, the cause must be solved.” In addition, he said, the real solution is “to maintain the seat and shock absorbers of the bicycle and take care of the posture.”
