What is Kyphosis?
Kyphosis is used as both a description of a normal spinal curve and a medical term denoting an abnormal spinal condition. In that way, it's somewhat confusing.
The normal spine has a kyphotic curve, as you are able to read about in this Anatomy of Kyphosis article. The thoracic spine (mid-back-in line approximately with your chest) should curve outwards; that's called a kyphotic curve. But if the thoracic spine curve outwards too far, that is abnormal, and that's a condition called hyperkyphosis, problematic kyphosis, or abnormal kyphosis.
Also, if your neck (cervical spine) or low back (lumbar spine) develop a kyphotic curve of any degree, that's considered abnormal. Your cervical spine and lumbar spine are supposed to have a lordotic curve; that's an inward curve.
Some people may call abnormal kyphosis just plain slouching, but it is more than that. It changes the way your spine works, and it can be very painful.
There are two types of abnormal kyphosis: structural and postural.
- Structural kyphosis means that you have a defect in one of the spinal structures. Scheuermann's disease is an example of structural kyphosis. It affects adolescents going through a growth spurt, and it happens the front part of the vertebrae don't grow at the same rate as the back part of the vertebrae. This uneven growth creates wedge-shaped vertebrae (vertebrae are supposed to be rectangular). The wedge-shaped vertebrae in Scheuermann's kyphosis cause the thoracic spine to have too much of a kyphotic curve.
- Postural kyphosis is, not surprisingly given its name, connected to poor posture. Slouching too much can give too much of a curve to the spine.
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