Kyphosis Treatment Methods
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Kyphosis is a curvature of the spine in its thoracic region bulging backwards. Visually, it looks like a slouch or hunchback. In childhood, this anomaly occurs due to improper posture, trauma, congenital defect. Its appearance in adults indicates a number of diseases: tuberculosis of the spine, osteoporosis, degenerative arthritis, etc. The treatment of kyphosis can be either conservative or surgical, depending on the indications.
Treatment of kyphosis in adults
In order to begin treatment, it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease, to which therapeutic actions are directed. Depending on the severity of the curvature and symptoms, drug therapy is prescribed using analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, calcium preparations, muscle relaxants, relaxing muscles, vitamin-mineral complexes, external ointments and gels.
An important role in getting rid of the pathology is played by physiological methods. This may be magnetic, electro or ultrasound therapy, electrophoresis, acupuncture, heat, water or mud therapy, physical therapy, massage, traction of the spine, and corset therapy.
All these procedures are aimed at strengthening the muscular system, eliminating pain syndrome, toning the muscles, accelerating metabolic processes, activating blood and lymph circulation, strengthening the immune system. A positive role on the spine has swimming. Systematic exercise leads to greater mobility and strength.
Treatment of kyphosis in children and adolescents
Kyphosis can be found in very young children 6-12 months. Pathology is indicated by a narrowed chest, round back, shoulders inclined forward. The reason lies at times in the violation of intrauterine development, heredity, rickets, poliomyelitis.
After an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment. The sooner the problem is identified, the more effective the therapy. It may include pain relief, taking vitamin D to prevent rickets, manual treatment and various physical procedures.
Often a problem with the spine in adolescents arises due to improper posture when sitting for several hours at the computer (postural kyphosis), deterioration of blood circulation associated with slower growth of the vertebrae, heavy backpacks.
In this case, an effective method is wearing a corset, the duration of the period is determined by the doctor. He selects individually, aligns his posture, keeps his shoulders in the correct position. It is necessary to sleep on a hard mattress without a pillow.
Young people are recommended to do swimming, physical therapy, take massage courses.
Treatment of kyphosis of the cervical spine
Kyphosis most often occurs in the thoracic spine, but sometimes it occurs in the cervical. It is manifested by numbness of the hands, irregular blood pressure, painful sensations in the shoulders and neck, sometimes a hump on the back of the head is formed.
In the early stages of development, it is well treatable, which consists of manual manipulations, physiotherapy exercises, and swimming. A skilled and experienced manual worker by his actions brings the vertebrae to a natural position, relieves muscle tension, strengthens them, improves blood supply to the vertebrae.
Exercise is based on the bends of the head to the shoulders, the chin to the chest, back, smooth rotations around the neck.
The degree of kyphosis and their treatment
The normal angle between the structural parts of the spine is 15-25º. I degree kyphosis is characterized by a deviation angle of 31-40º, II - 41-50º, III - 51-70º and visible with the naked eye, IV - over 71º.
Another diagnostic parameter is the hump or arcuate bulge. There may be defects in several parts of the spinal column at once (Scheyermann Mau disease). At stage II and III, pain occurs, especially during exercise.
Treatment of kyphosis, including the first 3 degrees, is based on all the activities described above, and their consistency and systematicity is important. Of great importance is the treatment of the underlying cause of the disease. Surgical intervention at these stages is not often used.
Kyphosis Treatment Methods
Of the entire set of conservative methods of treatment of kyphosis, therapeutic gymnastics or kinesitherapy is the most effective. It does not allow axial loads on the spine, it includes exercises on weight, decompression movements, stretching vertebrae.
Such dosed physical loads will relieve muscle spasm, increase spinal muscular protection, increase blood circulation in it, and cope with the deformity.
[Treatment of kyphosis according to Bubnovsky
One of the most famous rehabilitation techniques in this area is Dr. Bubnovsky. It is based on the development of individual exercises suitable for a particular person, and most importantly its dignity lies in the fact that they can be performed at home.
For those who do not have the opportunity to attend special centers, equipped with original medical simulators with instructors, video courses are recorded, allowing you to practice independently. But it is best to first take classes under the guidance of an experienced doctor (an average of 12 courses of 1-1.5 hours), and then fix the result at home.
The complex for the treatment of kyphosis consists of exercises based on stretching, sagging, and relaxation of the back muscles. Gymnastics Bubnovsky combined with proper nutrition, breathing exercises, water treatments, visits to the sauna. Its advantages are in high performance, safety of exercises, duration of the effect of training, and lack of the need for a large time period of work on your body.
Exercises for the treatment of kyphosis
For the treatment of thoracic kyphosis, the following basic exercises are done:
- squats with a stick behind his back, pressed to the shoulder blades, exhalation is carried out simultaneously with him, inhalation - when returning to the starting position;
- in the position of lying on the inhale, the rib cage rises, the supports on the elbows and the back of the head, lower slowly exhaling;
- lying on the belly stick to get behind his back in the area of the shoulder blades, gradually raise the upper torso as much as possible upwards, tilting the head back;
- sitting on a chair, reduce the back of your head to the lock, bend all the way back:
- kneel, rest on the floor with the hands. Bend your back to the limit, pushing the air out of your lungs, lower it while inhaling.
Exercises are repeated 4-5 times each.
Surgical treatment of kyphosis
The last stage IV kyphosis leads to poor health, pain, impaired cerebral circulation: dizziness, tinnitus. Even in this case, surgery is carried out only when its benefits prevail over all risks. This decision is made by specialists in different directions, taking into account other diseases, the patient's age.
Surgical correction consists of alignment of the spinal arch with the help of metal rods made of hypoallergenic materials that are mounted in hooks implanted into the vertebrae.
The created support allows a long period to maintain the spine in the desired position, reduce pressure on the nerve endings, and prevent damage to the spinal cord.