Kyphosis

The spine is made up of small 'stacked' bones called the vertebrae. These bones are arranged in three natural curves that are necessary to keep your body supported. Strong, flexible muscles help maintain these curves.

In a healthy spine, the three curves are:

• cervical, the curve inwards at your neck

• thoracic, the curve outwards in the middle and

• lumbar, the curve in the low back

When looking at a person from the side with most of their clothes off, these natural curves can be seen. When the middle curve is too far out, a person looks "hunchbacked." This condition is called kyphosis. It is important to discover if the kyphosis is a result of a structural problem or just bad posture.

If kyphosis is a structural problem, early detection and treatment are important. School screening usually alerts a child and parents so treatment can begin. Exercises and bracing are often the first choice. Rarely is surgery required.

Bad posture or slouching is the most common cause of kyphosis. The shoulders are held forward. The head sticks out front. This causes the muscles in the back to become tight and weak. Health problems like back pain, headaches, and fatigue result.

It is important to maintain good posture while sitting, standing, and sleeping. Keeping your head up, directly over your shoulders, will maintain the proper curve in the neck. Pull your shoulders gently back to correct slouching. You will find that when you straighten your neck, the rest of the back returns to its natural curves.

Other tips to good posture are:

• take frequent breaks to stretch

• gently stretch the muscles in the back of the thighs and

• use a chair that has good back support

Make good posture a habit so your back will be healthy. Following the tips and exercising your neck and back will help to insure that your back will stay healthy.

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