What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a sideways curve in your backbone (or spine). Often, it first shows up when you're a child or teenager.
The angle of the curve may be small, large, or somewhere in between. But anything that measures more than 10 degrees on an X-ray is considered scoliosis. Doctors may use the letters "C" and "S" to describe the curve.
Signs and Symptoms of Scoliosis
If you have scoliosis, you might lean a little when you stand. You could also have:
- A visible curve in your back
- Shoulders, a waist, or hips that look uneven
- One shoulder blade that looks bigger
- Ribs that stick out farther on one side of your body than the other
In addition to visible symptoms, scoliosis may lead to
- Low back pain
- Back stiffness
- Pain and numbness in your legs (from pinched nerves)
- Fatigue due to muscle strain
Kyphosis is a pronounced increase in the forward curvature of the upper back. A small curve is fairly typical. However, if an individual has an excessive curve, or it causes the spine to become unstable or painful, doctors may need to intervene.
Doctors call an excessive forward curvature kyphosis or sometimes hyperkyphosis. Postural imbalance, irregularities in the spine, or age-related conditions can cause kyphosis. It may not cause any symptoms other than changes in the appearance of the spine.
This article looks at the symptoms, causes, and treatments for kyphosis. It also outlines some exercises people can use to help address the condition.
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. For the purposes of this article, we use “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Symptoms of kyphosis
The primary sign of kyphosis is a visible forward curve in the upper part of the spine. It causes the upper back to appear curved over, with the shoulders rounded forward.
In mild cases, the excess spinal curve is not very noticeable. In other instances, a person may look as if they are bending forwards.
Kyphosis often occurs without any other symptoms. However, other symptoms can include:
- back pain
- stiffness in the upper back
- a rounded back
- tight hamstrings
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Types and causes of kyphosis
The spine is made up of bones known as vertebrae that stack on top of each other. This structure allows the spine to be supportive and flexible. It also means the spine is vulnerable to damage.
There are several types of kyphosis. The factors that contribute to kyphosis vary depending on the type someone has.
- Postural kyphosis: This is the most common form of kyphosis. It often starts in adolescence, when the muscles surrounding the spine develop differently due to a postural imbalance, such as slouching. Slouching increases the forward curvature, stretching the extensor muscles and posterior ligaments of the spine, which weaken over time. This can also occur in older adults, due to decreased muscle strength.
- Scheuermann’s kyphosis: This also tends to develop during adolescence. However, it can become more severe than postural kyphosis. Doctors do not know what causes this form of kyphosis.
- Age-related kyphosis: This type of kyphosis causes a curve in the spine that progressively gets worse in older age, often as a result of conditions that affect the bones in the spine. A common example is osteoporosis, which causes the bones to lose density and become weaker.
- Congenital kyphosis: This occurs when the spine does not develop properly before birth, causing kyphosis at birth. It can rapidly worsen with age.
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