Delhi Orthopaedic Association in association with Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals today organised a public awareness talk on bone and joint problems at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals premises.  This event was done to commemorate national bone & joint day and was followed by an interactive panel discussion which highlighted the rising problems  as well as preventive and treatment measures for the same.

The panel discussion and interaction on joint-related problems were followed by demonstration of physiotherapy exercises for the back, neck and knee joint. Eminent doctors from leading city hospitals participated in the discussion, organised in public interest to raise awareness on rising problems, preventive steps and treatments related to bone and joints.

Jaideep Gupta, managing director of the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said that observing such a health day was important, especially when problems such as arthritis and osteoporosis among the ageing population were becoming a major cause of disability. He revealed that more than two million new cases with debilitating arthritis or lower back pain are being reported every year and the conditions are both preventable and treatable if professional help is sought in time. The rule of the thumb is that the earlier a person seeks help the better are the clinical outcomes and quality of life.

Dr Yash Gulati, president, Delhi Orthopaedic Association informed, “Today people spend most of their time sitting rather than being involved in any physical activities. Such sedentary lifestyles promotes knee stiffness and joint pain, gradually leading to osteoarthritis.”

Once considered old-age ailments, bone and joint pains are now commonly reported by middle-aged people too. One of the most common ailments, osteoarthritis afflicts almost 70 million Indians, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. A fast-paced life coupled with stressful and irregular work patterns are some of the major reasons for the rising number of such cases.