The doctor makes the diagnosis of kyphosis with a complete medical history, physical examination and diagnostic tests. If the patient is a child, the doctor obtains a complete prenatal and birth history of him or her and asks if other family members are known to have kyphosis. The doctor will also ask about developmental milestones, since some types of kyphosis can be associated with other neuromuscular disorders. Developmental delays may require further medical evaluation.
A diagnostic test that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones and organs onto film. This test is used to measure and evaluate the curve. With the use of a standing lateral, full-spine X-ray, the doctor or radiologist measures the angle of the spinal curve.
A curve greater than 50 degrees is considered abnormal or hyperkyphosis. Early detection of kyphosis is important for successful treatment. Pediatricians or family doctors, and even some school programs, routinely look for signs that kyphosis may be present. Other than possible pain, kyphosis — except for the congenital variety — rarely produces harmful effects on the important organs and structures inside the body.
Treatment is therefore based on the symptoms a person may be experiencing. For example, for those complaining of pain, exercises to strengthen the core muscles and pain-relieving medications are used.
For those concerned with how the curvature appears, bracing or postural exercises may be used. For mild increases in kyphosis and the flexible postural curves, physical therapy is often prescribed. A daily home exercise program focusing on core strengthening and back extensor stretching and strengthening is often successful in managing the problem appearance and pain associated with kyphosis.
A Milwaukee brace or a supraclavicular brace are used to prevent worsening and often even correct kyphosis in actively growing children. The brace is prescribed by an orthopaedic specialist and made by an orthotist. A brace is indicated in actively growing children with kyphosis curves greater than 65 degrees.
When the spine is abnormally curved in one location, it disrupts the biomechanics of the entire spine, but as you can see, different curvature locations and curvature types affect certain areas of the body differently, thus producing different symptoms. While kyphosis and lordosis described two different types of spinal curvatures, one that bends outwards and one that bends inwards, a person can experience an over exaggeration of both types of spinal curves at the same time.
As each involves different sections of the spine, kyphosis most commonly affecting the thoracic spine, while lordosis typically develops along the lumbar spine, it is possible to have over-pronounced kyphotic and lordotic curves simultaneously. In fact, the spine commonly responds to the development of unnatural spinal curvatures by putting in counteractive curves, which is why one unhealthy and unnatural curve can disrupt the biomechanics of the entire spine.
The spine is a complex and crucial part of human anatomy, and as such, there are a number of conditions that can affect it. While lordosis is a term used interchangeably with hyperlordosis , meaning an exaggerated inward curvature of the lower back, and kyphosis and hyperkyphosis describe an over-pronounced outward curvature of the upper back, it it is also possible to have both conditions at the same time. While the conditions involve different curvature types that develop along different areas of the spine, they can produce both similar and dissimilar symptoms, and there are different types of both conditions that can develop related to causation.
Here at the Scoliosis Reduction Center , I have successfully treated a wide range of spinal conditions, including lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis. I combine multiple treatment disciplines such as condition-specific chiropractic care, in-office therapy, custom-prescribed home exercises, and corrective bracing. While no treatment results are ever guaranteed, being trained and experienced in multiple treatment modalities means patients of the Center can benefit from the results offered by different forms of treatment, integrated in such a way that they complement one another and offer patients the best possible prognosis.
Lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis are curves seen in the spine. Lordosis is normal for the neck and lower back. Kyphosis, on the other hand, is only normal for the thoracic upper and mid-back. The combined bending and twisting is now linked to:. Scoliosis therapy systems that fail or neglect cervical kyphosis or excessive lumbar lordosis may not produce desired results.
The scoliosis treatment you get from us is holistic, and it focuses on reducing the side-bending, twisting, and abnormal kyphosis or lordotic curves.
Lordosis , kyphosis, and scoliosis are spine curves that can cause pain or discomfort. Lordosis is a natural curve in the neck or lower back. Kyphosis is the natural curve of the upper and mid-back regions. When you look at the spine laterally, you will see several curves Figure 1.
When you look at the spine from the posterior rear , as in Figure 2, the spine will appear to be straight vertically from your neck to the tailbone. The terms for these normal curves are kyphosis kyphotic curve and lordosis lordotic curve. However, such natural kyphotic or lordotic curves should never be confused with scoliosis. Lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis are spine curves. Touch the top of your neck, near your hairline. From the base of your skull all the way down to your lower back, your spine is one of the most important parts of your body.
Your spine is made up of small bones called vertebrae that are stacked on top of one another, creating the curve of your back. In addition to protecting your spinal cord, your spine does a lot for you: It holds up your head, shoulders, and upper body so you can stand up straight. And it helps you bend, twist, and move around. Your spine naturally curves in three places — near your neck, chest, and lower back — creating a shape similar to a somewhat flattened letter "S".
But sometimes, your spine can curve either forward or sideways in places where it should not. This can cause pain, stiffness, numbness, cramping, and fatigue. Depending on the severity of the curvature and your age, symptoms of an abnormal curve can range from almost unnoticeable to very debilitating.
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