Battered roads take a toll

Battered roads take a toll
Bengaluru,








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As the civic authorities dig up roads for various reasons and work on the Metro rail and flyovers spills rubble on the streets, driving on these stretches is not only a test of patience but is fast becoming a health hazard.

Doctors are reporting a new trend of even 20-yearolds suffering from back problems caused by long bumpy rides on the city’s roads. As work on the elevated expressway on Hosur Road, the underpass at Jaragannahalli in JP Nagar and Bellary Road, on the metro rail on MG Road, CMH Road and 100 feet Road in Indiranagar progresses, these stretches have turned hellish for those on bikes and in cars.

“Both riding motorbikes and driving cars on bad roads can be injurious to health. Nowadays almost 40 per cent of the patients I see suffer from bone, muscle and joint problems caused by long hours of driving on pothole-filled roads,” says Dr Kishore Subbaiah, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Sagar Hospitals.

“Those with existing back problems like disc prolapse, sciatica and degenerative disc disorders find they are getting aggravated, while many who did not have any history of back or spinal problems, are developing them due to the bumpy rides,” he adds.

“Many of my patients complain of back pain and muscle fatigue. And all of them do long hours of driving on long stretches of bad, potholed roads,” says Dr Dharamesh P., a consultant orthopaedist.

The age group of such patients is 20 to 45 years, he explains.

Distances are adding to the problem. In an overpopulated city like Bengaluru people are left with no option, but to travel long hours to reach their workplaces and back. When they do this on damaged or dug up roads their backs and bones bear the brunt of the punishment.

“Both the time taken to negotiate the roads and their poor quality are affecting people of the city,” says Dr Suresh Hegde, a consultant orthopaedist. Worse, still when construction work leads to traffic jams commuters are forced to spend long hours in a particular posture either on their bikes or in their cars. “This is dangerous for the spine,” he warns.

In some cases the doctors are compelled to prescribe complete bed rest or change of lifestyle at least for a few months to treat the problem. Exercises and physiotherapy sessions , besides medication for the pain are also suggested.

“If only civic authorities take note of this issue and hurry up the pace of work, youngsters today could be saved from endless sessions of exercises, physiotherapy and painkillers,” the doctors say.

TAKEN FOR A RIDE ‘ Traffic snarls and bad roads cause tremendous mental exhaustion. I find it difficult to concentrate on work after reaching office and take some time to focus. This is because I am stressed out after riding on bad roads in erratic traffic.

Lohith Shekar Software engineer I have noticed that work that takes four hours to complete on a normal working day takes only two-and-a-half hours on weekends. This is because I don’t have to struggle my way through bad traffic while driving to work on weekends.

Siddharth Singh Programme analyst I try to avoid commuting ‘ during peak hours and also avoid taking roads where construction work is going on. These roads are not only muddy, but traffic is chaotic on such stretches so I try my best to avoid them.

Genia Shah dos and don’ts ? Avoid bumpy and potholed roads, even if that means taking a longer route to work ? Listen to soft music at low volume if you are in a car. This helps reduce stress. ? Avoid travelling to work and back home during peak hours. ? Move your body. Don’t maintain a fixed posture while driving or riding. ? Practice yoga or meditation at the beginning of the day.