Can Kyphosis Be Reversed? Best Treatments Explained

A healthy spine is key to maintaining a straight and upright posture, and healthy posture is key to maintaining spinal health and function. The spine is naturally curved at each of its main sections, and while curve size can vary, if a curve becomes under- or over-pronounced, it no longer falls within a healthy range and can become problematic.

The spine’s natural and healthy curves are key to its alignment and function, and hyperkyphosis is diagnosed when the thoracic spine curves outward excessively; this introduces uneven forces to the entire spine, and treatment needs will depend largely on the type of kyphosis.

Before getting to the specifics of hyperkyphosis, let’s talk generally about spinal biomechanics for a better understanding of the importance of spinal alignment and healthy posture.

Spinal Biomechanics

Spinal biomechanics refers to how the spine’s different structures work together to facilitate its function: supporting good posture, healthy movement patterns, protecting the spinal cord and organs, and providing the body with structural stability.

For the spine to function optimally, each section has to maintain its healthy curve type and alignment, and the three main spinal sections include the cervical spine, thoracic spine, and the lumbar spine.

As one long structure, each section affects the health of the others, so if a single section loses its healthy curve, it can disrupt the spine’s overall balance and stability.

Each spinal section has unique characteristics and functions, and when we’re talking about kyphosis, this involves the thoracic spine.

Thoracic Kyphosis

While the cervical spine and lumbar spinal sections have natural lordosis (curve that bends inwards), the thoracic spine is kyphotic, meaning the spine bends outwards.

As the largest spinal section and the only section that attaches to the rib cage, the thoracic spine helps protect organs inside the thoracic cage and the spinal cord, anchors the rib cage and torso, and supports healthy movement of the torso.

If a person’s thoracic spine curves too far outward, this is diagnosed as hyperkyphosis and can be problematic.

Hyperkyphosis used to be called hunchback due to the excessive forward rounding of the upper back and shoulders that occurs, and a more current term is roundback, describing the visual changes it’s associated with.

So if the thoracic spine curves too far outward, what are some common symptoms?

Symptoms of Hyperkyphosis

Symptoms of hyperkyphosis can vary from person to person based on a number of factors including patient age, severity, and cause, but commonly involves a visible arch in the upper back, poor posture, middle back pain, spinal rigidity, and mobility changes.

Most cases of hyperkyphosis are diagnosed during adolescence, but it can affect all ages.

As treatment needs are shaped by the underlying cause of the excessive outward curvature of the spine, let’s discuss the different types of hyperkyphosis.

Postural Hyperkyphosis

Postural hyperkyphosis is the most prevalent type; it’s caused by chronic poor posture and is the simplest type to treat because it’s non-structural.

Poor posture has become a slow-growing epidemic in the modern world. Too much time spent slumped forward looking down at devices has given rise to text neck and a number of postural issues.

Postural kyphosis is caused by chronic poor posture that over time can stretch and strain the ligaments and muscles that support the spine, facilitating the development of an unhealthy spinal curvature.

Postural kyphosis is most common in adolescents, who aren’t exactly known for their healthy posture, but it can also affect older adults experiencing age-related degenerative changes in the spine.

The difference with a non-structural kyphosis is that a change in position and active effort to correct bad posture can reduce the curve size; structural kyphosis can’t be impacted with a change in position.

Postural kyphosis is commonly treated with lifestyle guidance and kyphosis-specific physical therapy for postural awareness and restoration.

Scheuermann’s Kyphosis

Scheuermann’s kyphosis is structural, meaning it involves a structural abnormality within the spine itself; no change in position can alter the structural abnormality causing the hyperkyphosis.

Unlike postural kyphosis curves, Sheuermann’s kyphosis causes rigid curves that are not as easy to reverse.

Also diagnosed most often during adolescence, it’s caused by vertebrae being more triangular in shape; a healthy aligned spine has rectangular-shaped vertebrae that can be evenly stacked on top of one another in a straight, neutral, and aligned position.

Spinal misalignment can cause pain, mobility, and nerve issues. The brain and spine work in tandem as the body’s central nervous system (CNS), so a misaligned spine can also disrupt nerve communication.

Scheuermann’s kyphosis won’t respond to physical therapy alone because the underlying structural cause has to be addressed, and this can include the application of Chiropractic BioPhysics®, a customized kyphosis-specific rehabilitative exercise program, and corrective bracing.

Age-Related Hyperkyphosis

Age-related hyperkyphosis affects older adults and is caused by degenerative instability. Disc issues, bone issues (osteoporosis), and weak and/or muscle imbalances can contribute to the development of an excessive kyphotic curve in the thoracic spine.

Common symptoms involve back pain, reduced mobility and balance, increased risk of falls, pain and respiratory issues.

A focus of age-related hyperkyphosis treatment is restoring balance and stability for fall prevention, and this can be worked towards through kyphosis-specific physical therapy and a corrective brace like the KyphoBrace®: used mainly to increase stability and for pain relief.

Conclusion

Kyphosis treatment is shaped by a number of factors including patient age, severity, experienced symptoms, and cause.

Postural kyphosis is the most common type and as a non-structural condition is the simplest to treat with lifestyle guidance and physical therapy.

Through kyphosis-specific exercises, the spine’s surrounding muscles can be strengthened and balanced, providing more support and facilitating healthy posture.

When curves are rigid and structural, however, the treatment process has to be more comprehensive; this is the case with Scheuermann’s kyphosis that’s caused by malformations in the vertebrae that cause the spine to wedge forward excessively.

The underlying structural nature of the abnormality needs to be addressed, and this can involve the application of Chiropractic BioPhysics® with the goal of improving the spine’s balance and alignment, and in some severe cases, surgical treatment is recommended.

The KyphoBrace® can help by pushing the spine into a straighter alignment and reduce the unnatural curve size; it can also help maintain a straight and upright posture.

Treating age-related hyperkyphosis can involve kyphosis-specific exercise that works towards increasing the spine’s stability through strengthening its surrounding muscles with a focus on fall prevention, and a strong core is one that can support the spine’s healthy alignment and proper posture.

So can kyphosis be reversed? In many cases of hyperkyphosis, improvements can be made that include reducing the size of the kyphotic curve, restoring the spine’s alignment and surrounding muscle symmetry and strength, and postural restoration.