Your spine is a connective tissue in your body. Its control of a majority of body movement makes any issues affecting it crucial to your quality of life. This means multiple potential problems or ailments can affect your spine, each with different effects on the body. Shrewsbury kyphosis is an example of a typical spinal issue affecting many people. This condition and what it is all about are highlighted in detail below.
What is Kyphosis?
This spinal issue makes it bend outwards further than it is supposed to. Your upper part of your body then appears overly rounded. This can cause a hunchback or slouching appearance. Your spine normally has its natural curves that are important to assist us in standing straight while maintaining our posture. Standing can be challenging if extreme curving makes maintaining posture hard.
Most cases of kyphosis do not require medical intervention or result in serious health issues. However, feelings of self-consciousness about your appearance may come. Extreme cases exhibit breathing issues or pain and may need surgery to fix.
This condition is more prevalent in teenagers who still have their bones developing quickly. This does not mean it can not affect younger kids or older adults. Growing older involves your body’s spine losing its elasticity while bending slightly forward.
There are several types of kyphosis, including:
Postural kyphosis
This kind of kyphosis occurs when most people are teenagers. Bad habits of posture or slouching stretch the muscles and ligaments holding the spinal bones in place. This removes the vertebrae from their usual position making a circular shape in the spine.
This kyphosis:
- Occurs to mainly teenagers and girls more than boys
- Involves your curvature changing with position
- Does not come with any problems like pain
Scheuermann’s kyphosis
This type is called similar to the scientist who discovered it. This occurs when your vertebrae have a wedge shape rather than a rectangular one. These bones, shaped like a wedge, bend forward, causing a circular spine. This condition:
- It is more extreme than the postural one, especially in short people
- Happens more in teens, with more boy cases than girls
- Results in a nonflexible curve
- Can cause pain when sitting or standing for an extended period or when doing an activity
Congenital kyphosis
This condition is one you were born with and involves a spine that did not develop as it should have. This problem:
- Usually needs surgery when still young to inhibit the curve from worsening
- Typically becomes worse as the child grows
- Can come together with other birth issues involving the kidney and heart
Nonsurgical treatments for kyphosis include:
- Physical therapy exercises are done to enhance the back and abdominal muscles to enhance posture while decreasing pain levels
- Regular x-rays as a teenager
- Back brace, in rare cases, caused before birth
- Certain medications to relieve pain
Kyphosis usually has mild symptoms and does not typically bother your activities, but some cases may need surgery, such as those from birth. For more inquiries into kyphosis, check our website, or call our offices in Shrewsbury, NJ.
