Thoracic kyphosis is a hyper-curvature of the upper back that causes the back to round and the shoulders to fall forward. Kyphosis can be a progressive disorder, which if not treated can lead to a hunchback appearance. According to MayoClinic.com,...
A dowager's hump technically is called kyphosis, which is a curvature of the spine. A healthy spine should have some curves outward at both the top and lower part of the back. A number of conditions can cause an abnormal hump, however. Continuous...
Kyphosis refers to a spinal deformity that typically occurs in the thoracic region of the spine, but can also manifest in the cervical spine. Kyphotic patients develop a marked rounding of the spine, which results in a hunchback posture. Kyphosis...
The thoracic part of the spine has a normal curve starting from the neck to the middle of the back. An abnormal increase in the forward curve is known as kyphosis. An individual with a mild case of kyphosis will have a slouched appearance due to...
Posture is defined as the position of your body based on your alignment, the relationship of individual sections of your skeleton, specifically your spine. Good posture results in movement efficiency as your muscles exert force with the least...
Kyphosis is an abnormal outward curvature -- more than 50 degrees -- of the spine that results in a rounded upper back and possibly a hump. Kyphosis also is known as hunchback or round back. The condition can result from developmental issues,...
Made famous by author Victor Hugo, Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, is one of literature's best known characters to have suffered a condition called kyphosis. Characterized by a rounded upper back, kyphosis can range from mild to severe and...
Scapular retraction is an integral component of good trunk posture. If your scapular retractors are weak, your shoulders will hunch forward and add strain to your thoracic spine and spines. Completing simple scapular retraction exercises can...
Abnormal kyphosis, or simply kyphosis, is the abnormal curvature of the spine. According to Mayo Clinic, the upper portion of the spine curves forward. A small arc to the back is normal, but a bend greater than 50 degrees is considered atypical....
Kyphosis, or an abnormal curvature of the spine, can have several causes and ranges from mild to extremely debilitating. Most doctors prefer to begin treating conservatively at first, resorting to surgery only in extreme circumstances. This means...
Exercise is often excellent therapy for those with injuries or certain medical conditions, and in some cases, can actually lend to the treatment of the condition. This is the case with many back conditions and injuries, and with proper diagnosis...
A dowager's hump refers to a rounding of the upper back due to a curvature of the thoracic spine. Although the term dowager means an elderly woman, men and younger women also can get dowager's humps. Osteoporosis is the usual cause, and in...
Kyphotic posture, or kyphosis, is not only common among the elderly population, but also for many who sit behind a desk frequently, such as students and office workers. It is one of the primary causes of back pain, neck pain, migraines and weak...
Kyphosis is a condition resulting in an excessive curve of the upper spine, giving the appearance of a hunched back. This condition can be caused by a structural problem or by muscular imbalance and poor postural habits. According to the "American...
Postural kyphosis is a significant rounding forward of your shoulders caused by a muscular imbalance in your upper body. If you spend too much time training your pectoral muscles or if they are too tight, your shoulders will pull forward. The...
Kyphosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve into a C-shape, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Most commonly diagnosed in adolescence, kyphosis causes a person to appear hunched over. While the condition itself...
The spinal column is composed of four precise curvatures that are important in providing the balance, flexibility and absorption of stresses encountered on a daily basis. In some people, abnormal curvatures are present, resulting in conditions...
The thoracic spine is the mid-portion of your back and extends from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. It is made up of 12 thoracic vertebrae, which are separated by soft spongy discs that aid in shock absorption. The thoracic...
Kyphosis is a disorder characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine, resulting in a back that appears hunched and shoulders that are rounded. According to the Merck Manuals, it is common to have some degree of kyphosis, which results from...
Posture is the position that you hold your body in while seated, standing or lying down. Training the body to stand, walk, lie and sit straight helps eliminate the strain placed on the ligaments and muscles surrounding the back. Many conditions of...
Scoliosis and kyphosis are two types of curvature of the spine, from side to side or from front to back, respectively. Scoliosis may occur in the upper (thoracic) or lower (lumbar) spines or in both. Although curvatures of the spine may be present...
Kyphosis is a medical condition characterized by an abnormal and exaggerated curvature in the thoracic spine. The forward rounding in the upper back is typically greater than 50 degrees and may be caused by degenerative diseases, developmental...
Dowager's hump, or kyphosis, describes a condition in which there is an abnormality in the curve of the spine. Kyphosis is specifically the extreme curvature of the spinal column in the chest. The excessive curvature causes the formation of a hump...
Kyphoscoliosis, medically termed kyphosis, involves the forward rounding of the upper back, according to MayoClinic.com. The rounding is typically extreme, occurring at greater than 50 degrees. MedlinePlus states the curvature of the spine causes...
The Mayo Clinic says that kyphosis is a condition in which the upper part of the back actually assumes a rounded position. Sometimes, this is referred to as a hunchback. Certain medical conditions that affect the bone, connective tissue and brain...
Osteoporosis is a common disorder characterized by abnormalities in the production or replacement of the tissues that make up your bones. These abnormalities trigger bone thinning and a loss of bone density or mass. In certain circumstances,...
Scheuermann disease, or juvenile kyphosis, is a deformity or a forward rounding of the upper back in children. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for Scheuermann disease in this video.