There are multiple underlying causes that may cause kyphosis curving. Kyphosis curving in the thoracic spine can worsen due to poor posture, aging, or congenital diseases. The differences in causes could determine the treatment plan advised by your doctor.
Knowing the causes of kyphosis conditions will help you understand the treatment alternatives that spine medical professionals may advise you on preventing, slowing the progression of, or stopping your kyphosis curving. Our team at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can help evaluate your medical records to recommend the right treatment for your needs.
3 Leading Causes of Kyphosis
There are multiple ways that kyphosis may develop, but three of the most common causes include:
Poor Posture
If teens and young adults, when their spines are still growing, develop poor posture habits like slouching while sitting or standing, this can result in kyphosis. However, at this stage, kyphosis can often be corrected by improving your posture and doing exercises that strengthen the muscles that hold your posture. The core stability or postural muscles include the deep muscles in your abdomen, pelvis, and back.
When you don’t uphold your posture in the correct alignment, these postural muscles will weaken and become less efficient. Maintaining your balance will become more difficult, and you will have to work harder at it, resulting in fatigue. Other muscles will work harder to compensate for the weakened muscles. The overactivity of these muscles can result in pain and eventual kyphosis.
Brittle Bones
Fragile bones may also cause kyphosis. This occurs because, when the vertebrae in your spine fracture, they lose the height they once had or may even become misshapen. When the bones become abnormal or don’t heal correctly, this can cause instability in the spine and a gradual kyphosis condition. The young and old can have brittle bones caused by disorders like osteogenesis imperfecta and osteoporosis.
Osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, is a congenital disorder that causes bones to break easily. Osteoporosis causes the bones to deteriorate and lose tissue over time because of hormonal changes or a calcium and vitamin D deficiency. It’s important to meet with spinal specialists to determine a treatment plan for kyphosis that develops from brittle bones.
Deteriorating Discs
Discs in the spine act as shock absorbers between bones in the vertebrae and prevent the bones from grinding together. They are compressible discs with an exterior made of a cartilage-like material and an inner core made of a gelatinous substance. The discs become stiffer, thinner, and more brittle when the body ages. This condition is called degenerative disc disease.
As the discs deteriorate, stiffer and more brittle discs can rupture, allowing the soft inner core to escape and protrude from outside the disc. If the disc is severely damaged, it may just collapse, changing the shape of the vertebrae and weakening the surrounding ligaments. The collapse of discs can result in kyphosis.
Rely on the Spine Experts at NJ Spine & Orthopedic to Help With Your Kyphosis Condition
The spine experts at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can help treat all the causes of kyphosis. We can also advise you on exercises to improve your posture or perform surgery on the most severe ones. Count on our team to know what to do when confronted with your kyphosis disorder.
At NJ Spine & Orthopedic, our spine medical professionals are the leading experts in spinal conditions, relieving your symptoms from even the most severe kyphosis disorders. Call (866) 553-0612 or complete our contact form if you need to be relieved of your kyphosis symptoms.