Healthcare is a complex industry that is ever-changing.
From potential changes to the Affordable Care Act and insurance regulations, to ever-improving techniques and technology, it’s impossible to predict how the healthcare industry will evolve in the coming years. However, when it comes to spine care, medical experts project a big boom for the industry. We look at five reasons why spine care will come to the forefront of healthcare in the coming decade.
Expanding Spine Care Market
Whether you’re considering a career in medicine or you just want to learn why it’s important to take care of your spine, here’s a look at five reasons why the spine care market is set to boom in the coming years:
1. More Sports Injuries - More children and teens are playing sports than in years past, and as competition improves, parents tend to push their children to specialize in one sport. Single sport specialization has been linked to a higher rate of injuries, especially in growing children. Driven by repetitive athletic training in China and the U.S., medical experts project significant growth in the spine care market.
2. Obesity - More kids are playing sports, which is great, but on the flip side, we’re also seeing higher rates of obesity than ever before. As we’ve talked about on the blog before, obesity stresses the spine, which is tasked with shouldering the excess weight. With every step, your spine becomes more and more stressed. Over time, this leads to degeneration and spinal problems, which are projected to spur spinal growth in the coming years.
3. Aging Population - It seems obvious to say that people will continue to get older in the coming years, but as the large baby boomer gets into their 60s, 70s, and 80s, we can expect an influx of spinal problems. According to a recent GlobalData report, the aging population is expected to help fuel the spinal market over the next few years. We spent $4.19 billion on spine care in 2016, and that’s projected to increase to $5.73 billion by the year 2023.
4. Better and Smaller Techniques - Another reason why the spine care market is set to grow in the coming years is because we’re getting better at performing operations. Patients who may have put off surgery are now willing to undergo an operation because success rates have gotten better and minimally invasive techniques mean that patients aren’t out of commission for as long.
5. Better Implants - Along a similar vein, the spine market will continue to thrive in the coming years because device manufacturers are getting better at developing more durable and biocompatible implants. Not only are surgeries getting less invasive, but the operations are providing people with longer relief because the devices are better made. Again, this leads people who wouldn’t normally undergo an operation to seek out surgical options because we’re getting better at providing long-term relief.
About the Author:
Dr. Sinicropi has been treating Minnesota patients since 2006 at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute. Over 5000 of his patients have undergone minimally invasive spinal procedures, disc replacements, spinal decompressions and spinal fusions with an exceptional rate of success. He currently serves as the President and CEO of Midwest Spine & Brain Institute in Stillwater, MN.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker's Hospital Review/Becker's Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.