Kyphosis - Symptoms & Treatment

Kyphosis is the excessive curvature of the upper back also known as a hunchback. It can be either the consequence of bad posture or a structural aberrancy (in the spine). Kyphosis can happen at any age. In bad masquerade, this either results from or is caused by a forward head posture, and a flat lower back, with the superior pelvis also in a forward posture and the inferior pelvis tucked under the abdomen. Kyphosis is a type of spinal distortion and should not be confused with poor posture. Symptoms of kyphosis, that may be present or not, depending on the type and purview of the deformity, include mild back pain, fatigue, appearance of round back and breathing difficulties. If mandatory, the deformity is treated with chiropractic care, a brace and physical therapy, or corrective surgery. Acute cases can cause much discomfort and even cause death. In patients having progressive kyphotic deformity due to vertebral collapse, a procedure called a kyphoplasty may arrest the deformity and relieve the pain.

Causes of Kyphosis

Common Causes of Kyphosis :

• Tumors.
• Muscular dystrophy.
• Disk degeneration.
• Polio.
• prolonged steroid therapy.
• Scoliosis
• Spina bifida.
• Infection (such as tuberculosis ).
• Neurofibromatosis.
• other conditions, such as arthritis, Paget's disease, polio, compression fracture of the thoracic vertebrae, metastatic tumor, plasma cell myeloma, or tuberculosis.

Symptoms of Kyphosis

Some common Symptoms of Kyphosis :

• Spinal stiffness or tenderness.
• Fatigue.
• Mild back pain.
• Hunchback, roundback or slouching posture.
• difference in shoulder height.
• Slouching posture or hunchback.
• Round back appearance.

Treatment of Kyphosis

• Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are effective to treat kyphosis.
• Congenital kyphosis requires emendatory surgery at an early age.
• Surgery can be preferred in only major cases.
• Kyphosis caused by infection or tumor needs to be treated more belligerently, often with surgery and medications.