People turn to pavement, online therapy devices despite health risks

Jewel Rana, 45, has been riding a motorcycle for more than a decade and relies on ride-sharing as his sole source of income.

He rides for around seven hours a day and has developed pain in his knee joints and muscles as a result. To get relief, he started using a massage therapy device purchased from a pavement stall.

This correspondent spoke to Jewel on Tuesday (18 August) while he was buying a new therapy device in front of Baitul Mokarram Market in Dhaka.

Jewel said he had been using such a device for about a year and had experienced some relief from his pain. However, as his previous device had stopped working, he had come to buy a new one.

Asked whether he was aware of the possible health risks, Jewel said, “It may provide slight and temporary relief, but it may have long-term health risks.”

He said he initially did not notice any adverse effects. However, although the pain appeared to disappear while he was using the device, it later became more severe than before.

“But I have no time to visit a doctor. I can buy this machine from the pavement for Tk 950, while the same equipment is sold for Tk 1,500 in markets,” he said.

Jewel is not alone. Thousands of people are now using such devices purchased from pavements and online marketplaces in the hope of getting temporary relief from pain in their joints, muscles, shoulders, waist and head.

Both buyers and sellers often remain unaware of the long-term side effects and potential health risks associated with these devices.

Physiotherapists and doctors said many people buy electronic gadgets, including digital TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machines, from pavements and online marketplaces without consulting health professionals.

They warned that using low-quality devices without a prescription or proper instructions can increase the risk of nerve damage, skin injuries, burns and worsening pain.

These devices may provide temporary relief, but improper use can create long-term health hazards, they said.

Professor Dr Md Taslim Uddin of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) said, “The first condition for prescribing any medical treatment, including medicines, therapy or therapeutic devices, is that it must be recommended by a registered physician.”

“Buying and using any such device for a prolonged period without consulting a registered physician can cause physical harm,” he said.

He said users generally have little knowledge about the usefulness, limitations and side effects of unapproved devices available in markets and online shops.

As an example, the physician said there was no scientific evidence supporting so-called “laser surgery” as a treatment for waist pain, yet many people spend large amounts of money on such treatments without understanding the consequences.

Tk 124 crore market for physiotherapy equipment

According to a recent report by Global Market Research, Bangladesh’s physiotherapy equipment market is worth Tk 124 crore ($12.4 million).

The market is growing at an annual rate of 6.2 percent, according to the report. It projected that the market would reach Tk 180 crore by 2032.

Four Dhaka markets see high sales

Bismillah Market in Chawkbazar is one of the main hubs for physiotherapy equipment in the capital.

A large number of retailers from different parts of Dhaka come there to purchase the devices at wholesale prices.

Stadium Market, the BMA Bhaban Market on Topkhana Road and Motaleb Plaza in Hatirpool also see high sales of such gadgets.

Most of these products are imported from China, India and Taiwan.

Mazharul Islam, a trader of these products at Makkah Surgical Market on Topkhana Road, told Asia Post that demand for the equipment had increased significantly over the past three to four years.

“Previously, we sold 10 to 15 of these devices, but now sales have increased to more than 50,” he said.

He said the prices of the devices range from Tk 700 to Tk 2,000.

Traders said sales through online platforms are higher than those in physical markets.

Md Ilias Sarker, joint secretary of the BMA Bhaban Shop Owners Association, said the number of fake or adulterated devices was increasing as demand grew.

He alleged that many of the fake devices were being sold in Chawkbazar and the Mitford Road area.

Buyers unaware of health risks, sellers also avoid responsibility

Biplob Hasan, a buyer at BMA Bhaban Market, came to purchase an electronic device to reduce his mother’s abdominal fat.

“After seeing advertisements, I became interested and came to buy one. I have no knowledge of its side effects and have not consulted a doctor either,” Hasan said.

Ebadat Hossain, a trader at the same market, said the devices could potentially be harmful.

“Every device is electronic. We have no proper knowledge about what temperature or intensity should be used for which person. It may create health risks. But there is little we can do if customers decide to buy them,” he said.

Attractive advertisements on social media

Sellers are using social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to promote the devices, often featuring popular celebrities to attract customers.

Fazlul Haque, a physiotherapist at Shyamoli 250-bed TB Hospital, told Asia Post that many such devices were being sold without proper certification or evidence of their effectiveness.

“There is no scientific basis for many of these gadgets,” he said.

He warned that using a device at an inappropriate temperature or frequency could harm nerves and muscles.

Shafiqul Islam Opu, president of the Bangladesh Government Physiotherapist Association, said certification was essential for electronic therapy devices.

“Most of the Indian devices sold on pavements and through online platforms do not have such certification,” he said.

“If the frequency is not properly calibrated, these unapproved devices can damage tissues, injure nerves and cause internal burns,” he added.

Public health expert Abu Jamil Faysal said the sale and advertising of unapproved medical products were illegal.

“The government has no strict measures in this regard. As a result, ordinary people are being exposed to health risks. The health authorities need to take effective measures,” he said.