Sounds funny doesn’t it? Well, you have it! If you’ve ever looked at the human spine from the side, It’s not perfectly straight. In order to act like a shock absorber, you spine has three curves: one that rounds in at the neck (cervical lordosis), one that rounds out near the top (thoracic kyphosis), and a second that rounds in near the bottom (lumbar lordosis). Together, these help make your spine sort of like a spring This helps prevent you from injuring your spine by cushioning the impact of standing, walking, sitting, and jumping.
The normal angle for the thoracic kyphosis is 20-45 degrees. Anything greater than a 45 degree angle is known as hyper-kyphosis and can cause various problems as the angle increases. We’ve all known someone who’s grandma has a hump. This is commonly seen in grandma.jpgthose elderly with osteoporosis when their spinal bones become fragile and compress, creating an excessive curve in their back. Hyper-kyphosis can also be caused by: chronic poor posture, muscle weakness, genetic factors, degenerative disc disease, etc. Those with a positive diagnosis often report pain and stiffness in the back. In more severe cases, decreased mobility can be experienced. Treatments often include a variety of different manual therapies including physical therapy and chiropractic. Physical therapy for kyphosis will often also include a strong exercise regimen that will strengthen the weakened muscles of the back and attempt to restore proper posture to the spine. Bottom line: you don’t have to live with a hunch back!
If you, or a loved one, are suffering from back pain associated with this, contact us today for a free consultation! Stay Well.