Kyphosis can also be inherited. It can otherwise occur after an accident, surgery or a tumour. Even misalignments and disorders such as Scheuremann’s disorder, osteoporosis and chronic joint inflammation can cause kyphosis. Scoliosis symptoms or kyphosis symptoms: signs indicating a disorder
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Kyphosis treatment depends on the condition’s cause. In some cases, no medical treatment is required. Kyphosis exercises or physical therapy may be offered to strengthen the back muscles and prevent slouching — especially for postural kyphosis or Scheuermann’s disease.
The cause of kyphosis depends on the type:
Kyphosis
Kyphosis is a disability and can affect every region of your spine, including the upper back, the mid-back and the lower back kyphosis. When it happens in your neck, kyphosis changes the natural lordotic or inward curve of your vertebrae into an outward “C” curve. This change in curvature causes myriad problems with your overall health, such as:
The individual bones (vertebrae) that make up a healthy spine look like cylinders stacked in a column. Kyphosis occurs when the vertebrae in the upper back become more wedge shaped.
Spinal bones that don't develop properly before birth can cause kyphosis. Syndromes. Kyphosis in children can also be associated with certain syndromes, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome. Cancer and cancer treatments.
Fractures. Broken or crushed vertebrae (compression fractures) can result in curvature of the spine. Mild compression fractures often don't produce noticeable signs or symptoms. Osteoporosis. This bone-thinning disorder can cause spinal curvature, especially if weakened vertebrae result in compression fractures.
It can occur at any age but is most common in older women. Age-related kyphosis is often due to weakness in the spinal bones that causes them to compress or crack. Other types of kyphosis can appear in infants or teens due to malformation of the spine or wedging of the spinal bones over time. Mild kyphosis causes few problems.
Mild kyphosis causes few problems. Severe kyphosis can cause pain and be disfiguring. Treatment for kyphosis depends on your age, and the cause and effects of the curvature.
Severe kyphosis can compress the digestive tract, causing problems such as acid reflux and difficulty with swallowing. Body image problems. People with kyphosis, especially adolescents, may develop a poor body image from having a rounded back or from wearing a brace to correct the condition.
Less common types of scoliosis may be caused by: Neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Birth defects affecting the development of the bones of the spine. Injuries to or infections of the spine.
When to see a doctor. Go to your doctor if you notice signs or symptoms of scoliosis in your child. Mild curves, however, can develop without the parent or child knowing it because they appear gradually and usually don't cause pain. Occasionally, teachers, friends and sports teammates are the first to notice a child's scoliosis.
One hip higher than the other. If a scoliosis curve gets worse, the spine will also rotate or twist, in addition to curving side to side. This causes the ribs on one side of the body to stick out farther than on the other side.
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. While scoliosis can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most scoliosis is unknown. About 3% of adolescents have scoliosis.
About 3% of adolescents have scoliosis. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some spine deformities continue to get more severe as children grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling. An especially severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.
Family history. Scoliosis can run in families, but most children with scoliosis don't have a family history of the disease.
While most people with scoliosis have a mild form of the disorder, scoliosis may sometimes cause complications, including: Lung and heart damage. In severe scoliosis, the rib cage may press against the lungs and heart, making it more difficult to breathe and harder for the heart to pump. Back problems.
In many older people, kyphosis is a sign of osteoporosis. Weight bearing exercise and specific forms of calcium supplements will be used to maintain existing bone density. In very severe cases, osteoporosis medication may be needed to help prevent additional spinal fractures that can exacerbate kyphosis.
The individual bones (vertebrae) that make up a healthy spine look like squares stacked in a column. Kyphosis occurs when the vertebrae in the upper back become more wedge-shaped, excessively curving the mid spine. This results in a bowing of the back, seen as a slouching posture.
Scheuermann’s Kyphosis is caused by an interruption to the normal blood supply to the spinal bones and can cause varying degrees of pain. Commonly referred to as Scheuermann’s disease, it is typically seen in the mid-thoracic spine and found mostly in teenagers. Boys are affected more often than girls.
Bracing. For young patients who still have some flexibility in their spine, kyphosis bracing will be part of the home-based kyphosis specific exercise program. For older patients a similar form of bracing can be used to reduce pain and the danger of postural collapse. Read more about bracing >.
Gibbus Deformity is a form of structural kyphosis, where one or more adjacent vertebrae become wedged. Gibbus deformity can result from advanced skeletal tuberculosis and is caused by collapsed vertebral bodies. This can lead to spinal cord compression causing paraplegia, an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities.
A patient with Scheuermann’s kyphosis cannot consciously correct their posture because the curved part of the spine is very rigid. The patient may feel pain at this apex, which can be aggravated by physical activity and long periods of standing or sitting.
Postural Kyphosis is the most common type and can be found in children and adults. In childhood and adolescence it is commonly attributed to slouching and is reversible by correcting muscular imbalances.