What Is The Medical Term For Hunchbacks?

Kyphosis is the medical term for the condition of being a hunchback. It exact cause of this physical deformity is the curving of the upper part of your spine, making it appear from a side view to look like a question mark. This can be a painful and embarrassing condition that some are born with and others develop, either through accidents or diseases.

It can be a genetic mutation for some, which they have when they are born. Either due to parents or other ancestors who have this condition, or due to problems in uterus, like missing chromosomes. Commonly seen sister-problems to this condition in infants are further deformities, paralysis, or mental retardation, as problems this serious this early on rarely affect just the back. Infants often do not survive, even through to birth.

Some hunchback problems are much less serious. If someone only has a slight touch of this condition, it could just look like they do not have very good posture. This is what is commonly thought when a young person has minor kyphosis. Doctors may not even notice it. It is more noticeable and expected in older people because their muscles and bones start getting more brittle and warping. This is why the condition is often called a Widow’s Hump. It also is not helped by osteoporosis, which many older people suffer from.

If you have other skeleto-muscular diseases like scoliosis or cerebral palsy, you may be at higher risk for getting this as well. Osteoporosis in older people is a major contributor to this. Small children can also be victims to this if they are malnourished. The lack of proper food can stunt how their spine grows.

It is the same reason why malnourished children often look splay-legged due to rickets. In infants born with it congenitally and with children who are malnourished, it is best corrected with surgery, but this is very dangerous.

Scheuermann’s Kyphosis is a much more serious problem. The person cannot do anything to physically straighten up, which some other types of this problem may be able to do. Some can reduce the cosmetic look of it by actually having better posture, though the problem will still be there. Scheuermann’s cannot; their spines are far too rigid and set in the curved position.

Physical therapy is a great option for those who have it to a minor extent. Therapy allows the back to build up proper muscles to forcibly support the spine into growing in the correct way. If therapy does not totally work, a brace similar to a scoliosis brace can also be used. It works in the same way but puts outside pressure on the back. For all other situations, surgery will have to be the last step.

You can learn more about the benefits and advantages of using the Scoliosis treatment today! It is possible to achieve pain relief and begin enjoying activities fully when you address Scoliosis now!

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