Every year on October 16, the world observes World Spine Day 2025, a global awareness campaign that highlights the importance of spinal health and encourages people to adopt daily habits that prevent low back pain and disability. This year’s theme, “Invest in Your Spine,” reminds individuals, employers, and policymakers that taking care of the spine is an essential investment in lifelong well-being and productivity.
Spinal disorders—particularly low back pain (LBP)—remain one of the most common and disabling conditions worldwide. In 2020, an estimated 619 million people were affected, and that number is projected to rise to 843 million by 2050, largely due to population growth and ageing. According to The Lancet Global Burden of Disease Study (2023), low back pain is now the leading cause of disability globally across all age groups. (Lancet Rheumatology, 2023) LBP is now the leading cause of disability globally and one of the top reasons people require rehabilitation. 1
Most people experience back pain at least once in their lifetime, with prevalence peaking between 50–55 years and slightly higher rates in women. Around 90% of LBP cases are non-specific, resulting from factors such as poor posture, sedentary work, weak core muscles, and repetitive strain rather than structural disease.1
In many low- and middle-income countries, access to dedicated spinal health professionals remains limited. Here, empowering communities to self-manage their spinal conditions through awareness, posture correction, and exercise becomes essential.
The 2025 Invest in Your Spine campaign urges people to take small, sustainable steps to prevent spinal issues. Maintaining good posture, staying physically active, and using ergonomic furniture are simple yet powerful measures for back pain prevention and overall spine health. Alternating between sitting and standing, lifting objects correctly, and avoiding long hours of slouching are vital to reducing spinal stress.
Workplaces, particularly in technology and corporate sectors, should prioritize workplace ergonomics. Employers can integrate spine-friendly environments by introducing standing desks, promoting regular movement breaks, and including spine health education in wellness initiatives.
For public health, policymakers can embed spinal health promotion into occupational safety programs and national preventive care plans.
On this World Spine Day, Dr. Arvind Bhateja, Lead Neurosurgeon at SPARSH Hospitals, Bengaluru, shared practical insights for maintaining a healthy spine, especially for desk workers.
In a message, he gave 3 advices for better spine health:
“Maintain distance from your devices—keep them at eye level so you don’t bend your neck while looking at them.
Stand and walk around frequently to relieve pressure on the discs in your back.
And when carrying a backpack, don’t use just one shoulder; wear it on both shoulders evenly so your spine remains balanced.”
Dr. Bhateja also encouraged IT professionals and office employees to request standing desks and alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. “You don’t need anything fancy—just simple posture adjustments and movement breaks make a big difference,” he said.
He recommends quick muscle activation exercises like wall-supported stretches and soleus pushups, which can be done even while seated. The soleus pushup, he explained, is a calf-pumping motion proven to improve metabolism, circulation, and glucose control in people who sit for long periods. “Even if you can’t go to the gym, these simple movements protect your spine and overall health. Take care of your spine so that your spine remains fine,” he concluded.
Back pain prevention is not only a medical issue—it’s a collective responsibility. Individuals, healthcare providers, and policymakers must work together to reduce the global burden of spinal disorders.
By empowering people through education, ergonomic design, and supportive environments, we can significantly cut the incidence of low back pain awareness and related disabilities.
Reference
1. World Spine Day. "World Spine Day 2025." Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.worldspineday.org/.
2. The Lancet Rheumatology. “Global Burden of Disease Study 2023: Low Back Pain.” 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00077-4.
(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)
