How Can Exercise Improve Kyphosis and Enhance Spinal Health?

Poor posture doesn’t just affect your appearance; it may also lead to chronic pain and a curvature of the upper back known as kyphosis. Exercises targeting the upper body, back, and core can help improve posture. Kyphosis refers to an anterior curvature of the spine, which is the opposite of lordosis, a posterior curvature. The SCOR Kyphosis Project aims to study the effects of specific spinal muscle-strengthening exercises on kyphosis, investigating differences between men and women. Exercise groups meet for one hour, twice a week for 3 months, at the UC San Francisco Osher Center.

Kyphosis, sometimes known as roundback or dowager’s hump, is diagnosed when the spine’s curvature measures 50 degrees or greater on an X-ray, while the normal spine has a curvature range of 20 to 45 degrees in the upper back area. Treatment options vary based on the kyphosis cause and severity. Postural kyphosis, the most common type, is often noticeable in adolescence and can be associated with slouching rather than a spinal abnormality. Exercise is used to help correct posture, with the condition being more prevalent in females.

Symptoms of kyphosis include excessive rounding of the upper back, pain, and reduced functionality. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause and the symptoms experienced by the patient. Common treatments include exercises, physical therapy, bracing, medications, and possibly injections for pain management. Since kyphosis can worsen over time, patients are carefully tracked and treatments adjusted as necessary.

For further information on managing kyphosis through exercise and other treatments, you can visit reputable health websites such as Harvard Health, HSS, UC Davis Health, UC San Diego Health, UC Davis Spine Center, URMC, OHSU Spine Center, and UConn Health.