Spinal health risks increase due to sedentary office work

Prolonged sedentary work and non-ergonomic environments are increasing the risk of spinal health issues. According to World Health Organization data, 619 million people globally were affected by back pain in 2020, a figure projected to reach 843 million by 2050. In Turkey, 2022 health survey data indicates that 24.6% of individuals aged 15 and older experienced back problems within the last 12 months.

Prof. Dr. Mahmut Akyüz, a specialist from Memorial Antalya Hospital, advises office workers to take short breaks every hour to perform stretching exercises. He warns that while pain is the most common symptom, persistent pain lasting longer than six months—especially if accompanied by tingling, numbness, or weakness in the limbs—may indicate more serious conditions such as spinal calcification or herniated discs. He also notes that spinal pain can sometimes be mistaken for pain originating from internal organs like the kidneys or stomach.