Shalini, New Delhi: A study across eight cities has found that 67 per cent of white collar Indians suffer from back pain.

The Health Care Welfare Society, an NGO, surveyed 3,200 professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 and found that a majority of them said they suffered back pain after sitting for eight hours at a stretch.

In Mumbai, 56 percent of people surveyed suffered from backache compared to 51% in Delhi. As many as 34.5 per cent of those surveyed blamed public transport for their back pain.

"The main reason for leave from work amongst employees is backache and the worst hit are those people belong to IT industry, BPOs and media," said HCWS director Anup Singh.

Increasingly more people from the younger age group in these sectors are suffering from backaches.

"Earlier it used to be people over 40 who used to complain about backaches, but now its people as young as twenty five," said orthopaedician Dr Ajay Wadhawan.

The study said 70 per cent of those surveyed admitted to sitting or working in the wrong posture. Doctors say a right posture is the best way to prevent backaches. Also taking breaks while working on the computer every couple of hours will help take strain off ones back.

Related Reads: Sit up Straight? No Mom, You're Wrong Is Work Stress Affecting Your Back? Beat Stress, Say 'No' To Work