STRONGER THAN SURGERY: The New Era of Spine Care in India
By Dr. Yashwant Peddenti (PT), Founder – The Flexion Spine & Physiotherapy Clinic, Secunderabad
Spine pain has silently become one of India’s most disabling health problems. From busy IT professionals sitting for 10–12 hours a day to homemakers juggling demanding routines, almost every household has someone silently battling cervical or lumbar issues. For many, the first instinct is fear — fear of disc bulges, fear of surgery, and fear of “never getting back to normal.”
But over the last decade, a new narrative has been emerging across the world: most spine problems don’t need surgery — they need the right rehabilitation. This philosophy forms the backbone of my books Stronger Than Surgery and The Curve That Changed Everything, as well as the work we do at The Flexion, our spine-specialised physiotherapy clinic in Secunderabad.
The Real Problem Isn’t the Spine — It’s the System
For years, spine care has been dominated by scans, labels, and surgical opinions. A mild disc protrusion becomes a threat. Age-related degeneration is treated like a disease. Patients are told to “avoid bending,” “stop lifting,” or “take complete rest,” unknowingly worsening stiffness and fear.
At The Flexion, we realised early on that the issue is not the patient’s spine — it’s the misinformation around it.
Scientific literature now shows:
– 95% of spine problems are non-surgical.
– Movement is medicine for most back and neck issues.
– Disc bulges are common even in people without pain.
– Strengthening and mobility restore outcomes better than passive treatments.
A New Approach: Rebuilding People, Not Just Spines
At The Flexion, we treat spine pain using a structure that combines:
- Detailed Assessment Beyond the MRI
Movement patterns, lifestyle, daily posture, occupational habits, and psychological factors matter more than the scan. Many cases that look severe on MRI behave mildly in real life — and vice versa.
- Active Rehabilitation Instead of Quick Fixes
Instead of relying on repeated traction, ultrasound/IFT as primary treatment, or long-term rest, we focus on exercise-based, spine-specific protocols that retrain strength, control, and confidence — the true pillars of recovery.
- Empowering Patients with Education
Patients often walk in scared, but walk out informed. Understanding their spine removes fear — and recovery accelerates.
- Long-Term Conditioning
Once pain reduces, we continue into core stability, mobility restoration, strength training, balance and ergonomics, and lifestyle modification. This ensures the pain stays away, not just gets reduced.
Stories That Prove It Works
While writing The Curve That Changed Everything, I included real recovery stories of everyday people — an auto driver, a homemaker, a businessman, a young IT employee — individuals who overcame chronic spine pain without surgery.
These stories reflect what we see daily at The Flexion:
– People who couldn’t sit for 10 minutes now finishing office hours comfortably.
– Patients who came with years of pain now lifting their children with confidence.
– Elderly individuals regaining balance, walking ability, and independence.
Why India Needs Spine-Focused Physiotherapy Now
India is reaching a critical point where sedentary lifestyle, work-from-home ergonomics, stress, and lack of physical activity are creating an explosion in spine issues, especially among younger adults.
The Future of Spine Care
Spine care is evolving, and physiotherapy is taking its rightful place at the center.
The future will be built on preventive spine conditioning, early physiotherapy-first approach, community awareness, patient education, clinical transparency, and technology-supported rehab.
Final Note
Most people don’t need a spine surgeon. They need a physiotherapist who listens, assesses, educates, and empowers.
- The body is resilient.
- Movement heals.
- And you are much, much stronger than surgery.
