New Delhi: Every morning before the rush begins, 27-year-old Ramesh (name changed) straps on a delivery bag weighing several kilograms and rides through Mumbai’s traffic for nearly 12 hours.
By the end of the day, the ache in his lower back has become so familiar that he barely notices it anymore. The numbness in his wrists, the stiffness in his shoulders and the exhaustion that follows him home have become part of the job. “If I don’t work, I don’t earn. Pain cannot become an excuse,” he says.
His story mirrors that of thousands of app-based delivery riders whose bodies are bearing the hidden cost of India’s booming gig economy.
A new study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) has found that young two-wheeler delivery riders are developing musculoskeletal disorders and psychological distress at an alarmingly early age, prompting researchers to describe the sector as an emerging occupational health concern requiring urgent policy attention.
The findings assume significance as India’s gig workforce continues to expand rapidly. According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, the country now has nearly 1.2 crore gig workers, up from 77 lakh in 2020-21. NITI Aayog estimates this number could reach 2.35 crore by 2029-30, making platform-based work one of India’s fastest-growing sources of employment.
Yet, while customers receive food, medicines and groceries at their doorstep within minutes, the study suggests that the workers behind this convenience are increasingly paying with their physical and mental health.
Conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Public Health Training and Research (NIPHTR), Mumbai, the study assessed 111 food and grocery delivery riders aged 18 to 40 years in Panvel using internationally validated tools to evaluate both musculoskeletal health and psychological well-being.
The findings reveal that 87.3 per cent of riders had experienced musculoskeletal disorders during the previous year, while 42.3 per cent showed signs of psychological distress.
For occupational health experts, the figures are particularly worrying because the affected population is remarkably young.
Unlike age-related back problems seen later in life, these riders are developing chronic pain during their twenties and thirties, raising concerns that years of repetitive physical strain could lead to long-term disability.
The most common complaint was lower back pain, reported by 68.5 per cent of participants. More than half suffered pain in the upper back (51.4 per cent), while 34 per cent complained of shoulder pain and an equal proportion reported pain in the wrists and hands. Many also experienced discomfort in the neck, hips, knees and ankles.
Researchers attribute these disorders to the unique nature of delivery work. Riders spend hours in a fixed riding posture, repeatedly bend and twist while collecting or delivering parcels, climb staircases carrying heavy bags and negotiate potholes, speed breakers and congested traffic throughout the day.
Unlike office workers who may stretch or change posture periodically, delivery riders often remain on the move continuously, with little opportunity for recovery between trips.
The study also found that the burden of illness rose sharply with workload.
Nearly 60 per cent of riders routinely carried delivery loads weighing five kilograms or more, while the average rider travelled around 161 kilometres every day and completed 20 to 25 deliveries.
As the weight of delivery bags increased, so did the number of body regions affected by pain. Heavier loads placed additional strain on the spine, shoulders and upper limbs, significantly increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Working conditions appeared equally demanding.
About 85 per cent of participants worked for more than 10 hours daily, while 91 per cent worked at least six days every week.
Researchers found that even within this relatively young workforce, age made a difference. Riders in their thirties reported substantially higher rates of chronic pain than those in their twenties, suggesting that prolonged exposure to these working conditions accelerates physical wear and tear.
The study also highlights a less visible consequence of gig work—its impact on mental health.
More than four in every ten riders were found to be experiencing psychological distress.
Long working hours, greater travel distances, heavier delivery loads and widespread bodily pain were all significantly associated with poorer mental well-being.
Researchers believe the pressures extend far beyond physical exertion.
The constant race against delivery deadlines, navigating unpredictable traffic, dealing with impatient customers, fluctuating earnings and uncertainty over job continuity create an environment of chronic stress.
Importantly, the study found that it was not merely the presence of pain but its extent that affected mental health. Riders experiencing pain across multiple parts of the body were significantly more likely to report psychological distress, pointing to a vicious cycle in which chronic pain contributes to anxiety, disturbed sleep and emotional exhaustion, which in turn may worsen physical symptoms.
Interestingly, despite these hardships, more than 80 per cent of participants reported being satisfied with their jobs.
Researchers say this reflects the economic realities of gig work, where flexible employment provides an important source of livelihood for many young people despite the physical costs involved.
The findings come at a time when the Centre has begun extending social security measures to gig and platform workers.
Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has repeatedly said that gig workers are an integral part of India’s digital economy and deserve a secure and dignified working environment. He has highlighted initiatives such as e-Shram registration, health insurance, social security benefits and skill development programmes aimed at improving their welfare.
However, occupational health experts believe that healthcare support alone will not be sufficient unless workplace risks are also addressed.
The researchers have called for dedicated occupational health guidelines for delivery riders, including limits on working hours, ergonomic redesign of delivery bags, restrictions on excessive load carriage and periodic health screening to detect early signs of musculoskeletal disorders.
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