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Kyphosis treatment methods
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Kyphosis is a curvature of the spine in its thoracic region with a convexity backwards. Visually, it looks like a stoop or hunchback. In childhood, such an anomaly occurs due to poor posture, injuries, and congenital defects. Its appearance in adults indicates a number of diseases: tuberculosis of the spine, osteoporosis, degenerative arthritis, etc. Treatment of kyphosis can be either conservative or surgical, depending on the indications.
Treatment of kyphosis in adults
In order to start treatment, it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease, which is what the therapeutic actions are aimed at. Depending on the severity of the curvature and symptoms, drug treatment is prescribed using analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, calcium preparations, muscle relaxants, vitamin and mineral complexes, external ointments and gels.
Physiological methods play a major role in getting rid of pathology. This may be magnetic, electrical or ultrasound therapy, electrophoresis, acupuncture, heat, water or mud therapy, therapeutic exercise, massage, traction of the spine, corset therapy.
All these procedures are aimed at strengthening the muscular corset, eliminating pain syndrome, toning muscles, accelerating metabolic processes, activating blood and lymph circulation, and strengthening the immune system. Swimming has a positive effect on the spine. Systematic physical exercises lead to greater mobility and strength.
Treatment of kyphosis in children and adolescents
Kyphosis can be detected in very young children aged 6-12 months. The pathology is indicated by a narrowed chest, a rounded back, and shoulders bent forward. The cause is sometimes due to intrauterine developmental disorders, heredity, rickets, or previous poliomyelitis.
Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment. The earlier the problem is identified, the more effective the therapy. This may include pain relief, vitamin D to prevent rickets, manual therapy, and various physical procedures.
Often, problems with the spine in teenagers arise due to poor posture when sitting for many hours at a computer (postural kyphosis), poor blood circulation associated with slow growth of the vertebrae, and heavy backpacks.
In this case, an effective method is wearing a corset, the duration of the period is determined by the doctor. It is selected individually, aligns the posture, keeps the shoulders in the correct position. It is necessary to sleep on a hard mattress without a pillow.
Young people are advised to engage in swimming, exercise therapy, and take massage courses.
Treatment of cervical kyphosis
Kyphosis most often occurs in the thoracic spine, but sometimes it occurs in the cervical spine. It manifests itself as numbness in the arms, blood pressure surges, painful sensations in the shoulders and neck, and sometimes a hump forms on the back of the head.
At early stages of development, it responds well to treatment, which consists of manual manipulations, therapeutic exercise, and swimming. A skilled and experienced chiropractor brings the vertebrae into a natural position, relieves muscle tension, strengthens them, and improves the blood supply to the vertebrae.
Physical exercises are based on tilting the head to the shoulders, the chin to the chest, backwards, and smooth rotations around the neck.
Degrees of kyphosis and their treatment
The normal angle between the structural sections of the spine is considered to be 15-25º. Kyphosis of the first degree is characterized by a deviation angle of 31-40º, II - 41-50º, III - 51-70º and are visible to the naked eye, IV - over 71º.
Another diagnostic parameter is a hump or arcuate bulge. Defects in several sections of the spine are possible (Scheierman Mau disease). At stages II and III, pain occurs, especially during physical exertion.
Treatment of kyphosis, including the first 3 stages, is based on all the above-described measures, and their sequence and systematicity are important. Of great importance is the therapy of the underlying cause of the disease. Surgical intervention at these stages is not often resorted to.
Treatment methods for kyphosis
Of all the conservative methods of treating kyphosis, the most effective is therapeutic gymnastics or kinesitherapy. It does not allow axial loads on the spine, includes exercises on weight, decompression movements, stretching the vertebrae.
Such dosed physical exercise will relieve muscle spasms, strengthen muscular protection of the spine, improve blood circulation in it, and cope with deformation.
[ Treatment of kyphosis according to Bubnovsky
One of the most famous rehabilitation methods in this area is that of Dr. Bubnovsky. It is based on the development of individual exercises suitable for a specific person, and its main advantage is that they can be performed at home.
For those who do not have the opportunity to visit special centers equipped with original medical simulators with instructors, video courses have been recorded that allow you to practice independently. But it is best to first take classes under the guidance of an experienced doctor (on average 12 courses of 1-1.5 hours), and then consolidate the result at home.
The complex for treating kyphosis consists of exercises based on stretching, bending, and relaxing the back muscles. Bubnovsky's gymnastics is combined with proper nutrition, breathing exercises, water procedures, and sauna visits. Its advantages are high efficiency, exercise safety, and the duration of the effect of the exercises, and the disadvantage is the need for a long period of time to work on your body.
Exercises for the treatment of kyphosis
To treat thoracic kyphosis, the following basic exercises are done:
- squats with a stick behind your back, pressed to your shoulder blades, exhaling at the same time, inhaling when returning to the starting position;
- in a lying position, while inhaling, the chest rises, supporting the head on the elbows and the back of the head, and lowers slowly while exhaling;
- lying on your stomach, place the stick behind your back in the area of your shoulder blades, gradually raise your upper body as high as possible, throwing your head back;
- sitting on a chair, clasp your hands behind your head and bend backwards as far as you can:
- Get on your knees, rest your hands on the floor. Arch your back as far as you can, pushing the air out of your lungs, and lower it as you inhale.
The exercises are repeated 4-5 times each.
Surgical treatment of kyphosis
The last stage IV of kyphosis leads to poor health, pain, cerebrovascular accident: dizziness, tinnitus. Even in this case, surgical intervention is performed only when its benefits outweigh all risks. Such a decision is made by specialists in different fields, taking into account other diseases, the patient's age.
Surgical correction consists of straightening the spinal arc using metal rods made of hypoallergenic materials, which are attached to hooks implanted in the vertebrae.
The created support allows for a long period of time to maintain the spine in the desired position, reduce pressure on the nerve endings, and prevent damage to the spinal cord.