Back Pain Poses a Challenge for Workplaces in Congo
On October 14, in the airy conference room of the administrative wing at Maya-Maya, dozens of security agents, baggage handlers, and office employees watched two clinicians unfold an image of the human spine. Their employer, Brazzaville-Congo Airport (Aerco), had opted for prevention over cure.
The public health session, delivered with support from the private International Clinic, focused on the underestimated but costly scourge of lower back pain. According to the World Health Organization, this condition is the leading cause of disability worldwide, making knowledge a strategic asset for any business.
In Congo-Brazzaville’s dynamic service sector, airport workplaces combine prolonged standing at security checkpoints with sudden lifting of heavy loads on the tarmac. Doctors warned that these alternating strains are perfectly designed to cause micro-traumas in the lumbar vertebrae, which accumulate silently until a simple twist triggers days of missed work.
An orthopedic surgeon opened the session with a simple statement: “Your spine is the body’s mast; if it cracks, the whole ship leans.” Behind him, slides displayed local statistics showing that back-related absenteeism has been steadily increasing since passenger numbers rebounded after travel restrictions eased.
Inside the Maya-Maya Workshop
Next to the surgeon stood a senior physiotherapist, who guided the audience through daily biomechanics. He asked an apron-wearing porter to mimic lifting a twenty-kilogram suitcase. The volunteer instinctively bent his back first, prompting the specialist to interrupt the demonstration and humorously correct his posture.
The physiotherapist described four warning signs that should lead to immediate consultation: persistent morning stiffness, tingling in the legs, difficulty holding objects, and pain that worsens after rest. He reminded supervisors that early referral to physiotherapy reduces the risk of chronic disability, which later becomes costly for insurers.
The specialists also addressed lifestyle factors. Excess weight, they said, puts an extra kilogram of load on the spine with every additional step. Smoking compromises disc nutrition because nicotine constricts blood vessels. Even chronic stress can amplify pain perception by remodeling neural pathways, a finding increasingly repeated in global research.
Aerco’s Head of Human Resources stated afterward that the company would integrate the recommendations into weekly safety briefings and explore ergonomic improvements for check-in counters. “Keeping our employees healthy is an operational priority; planes don’t turn around efficiently if the staff is immobilized,” she noted.
The International Clinic’s Expanding Care Model
Beyond the conference room, the International Clinic is positioning itself as a one-stop center for musculoskeletal care in Brazzaville. The multidisciplinary facility currently hosts pediatrics, dentistry, oncology, and dermatology, but management is heavily betting on a future surgical wing dedicated to orthopedic procedures.