Lumbar and cervical lordosis is smoothed and straightened: what is it? What does straightening physiological lordosis mean?

Very often, the results of special studies indicate that lordosis is straightened in the cervical or lumbar spine. What this means and for what reasons they appear will be discussed in the material provided.

It’s worth starting with the fact that an adult has two physiological lordoses. This is the lumbar and cervical curve of the spine anteriorly. Cervical lordosis develops at the age of 2-5 months of life in the first year of a baby’s life. When it is fully formed, the child begins to hold his head independently. Lumbar lordosis develops at the age of 10–12 months. This is the period when the baby begins to stand on his own legs and tries to take his first steps.

With the help of lumbar and cervical lordosis, symmetrical shock absorption and stability of a person in an upright position are ensured. Their antagonists are thoracic and sacral kyphosis (posterior deviation).

If one physiological lordosis is straightened, then the entire spinal column suffers, since only together all four bends are able to ensure stability of the vertical position of the body and upright posture. If the cervical lordosis of the spine is straightened, then with a high probability, additional examination will reveal compensatory straightening of the thoracic kyphosis, etc.

Such poor posture negatively affects the condition of the intervertebral discs. Due to improper distribution of the shock-absorbing load, their deformation occurs and the degenerative dystrophic process of destruction begins. The development of osteochondrosis and its consequences, such as intervertebral protrusion, hernia, radicular syndrome, etc., is provoked.

What is it: clinical picture

From Greek, “lordosis” is translated as “stooped, bent.” In medicine, this term refers to the physiological curves of the spine in the lumbar and cervical regions with a forward-facing convexity. The purpose of these bends is to reduce the shock-absorbing load that the spinal column experiences when walking.

As for hypolordosis (straightening, smoothing of lordosis), it is a pathological condition characterized by straightening the physiological curves of the spinal column in the neck or lower back.

With hypolordosis, the bend straightens backwards

This pathology is extremely rare - it accounts for no more than 1% of the diagnosed spinal diseases, and is equally often detected in older men and women.

The smoothness of lumbar and cervical lordosis can occur in different ways - asymptomatic or with severe pain in the area of pathological straightening. The different clinical picture of the disease is determined by the condition of the muscle corset, the anatomical features of the body structure, and the degree of deformation of the vertebrae.

Diet for lordosis

Diet for osteochondrosis

Efficacy: no data
Timing: constantly
Cost of food: 1450-1780 rubles per week

Diet for arthritis

Efficacy: Therapeutic effect after 2-6 months
Terms: 2-6 months
Cost of food: 1780-1880 rubles per week

You don’t have to adhere to a special diet for this disease, but it is important to eat in such a way that food easily passes through the gastrointestinal tract, is absorbed and does not cause constipation .

It is important to drink a lot of liquid per day - at the rate of 30 ml per 1 kg of weight.
Every day the menu should include a lot of fiber-rich foods - fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs.
Reduce the amount of sweet and starchy foods.
Minimize or completely eliminate fried, spicy, fatty, smoked, and alcoholic drinks.
You can follow diets that are recommended for arthritis and osteochondrosis.

Causes

Physiological lordosis of the lumbar and cervical spine begins to form from the moment the child is born. Throughout his life, various factors will influence his posture, causing changes in the curvature of the spinal column.

Straightening of lordosis can occur due to congenital reasons, i.e. due to congenital abnormalities of the spine (the primary factor of the disease).

As for secondary or acquired changes, they can occur for the following reasons:

overstrain of the muscles of the lower back or neck against the background of long-term poor posture (hypolordosis is most often diagnosed in patients leading a sedentary lifestyle and working at a computer);
permanent injuries in professional athletes and people leading an active lifestyle;
road traffic injuries;
various diseases (cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis, tumors, infectious diseases, intervertebral hernias).

In turn, hypolordosis can provoke displacement of the vertebrae (spondylolisthesis), instability of the spinal column, spinal stenosis and other unpleasant diseases.

Symptoms

You can determine the straightening of lordosis at home . This is easy to do: just stand with your back to the wall, press the back of your head, buttocks and shoulder girdle against it. Normally, the palm should fit into the gap between the wall and the lumbar region. If this does not happen, then you have hypolordosis.

Lumbar hypolordosis can be recognized by the following set of symptoms:	Symptoms of cervical hypolordosis include:
pain in the lumbar region; limited mobility of the affected segment; visible violations of posture; numbness of the lower extremities; flattening of the back (detected by palpation); increased fatigue when standing and while walking; change in gait.	frequent headaches, dizziness; pain in the neck area; periodic darkening of the eyes; numbness of the scalp.

Smoothed lordosis increases the risk of pinching the nerve endings of the spine. When straightening the curve in the lumbar region, compression syndromes caused by pinching of nerve fibers in the vertebral foramina come first. As for hypolordosis of the cervical spine, it leads to the development of vascular disorders in the brain. This is due to the fact that the vertebral artery passes through the neck, which provides blood supply to 25% of the structures of the brain.

Thus, any displacement of the cervical vertebrae (including straightening of the cervical lordosis) can lead to ischemic stroke (lack of oxygen and death of brain cells) or loss of consciousness.

Straightening or smoothing of lordosis is a disorder that is as dangerous as any other pathological changes in the spine . Lack of timely treatment for hypolordosis can lead to serious consequences caused by pinched nerve roots and disruption of internal organs (compression of the spinal cord, displacement of the vertebrae, changes in nerve conduction).

That is why, if any signs of hypolordosis appear, it is necessary to contact a specialist as soon as possible and begin treatment.

Video: “What is straightening lordosis”

Find out more about the development of hyperlordosis in all parts of the spine:

You can read more about lordosis in the thoracic region on the page
What is lumbar lordosis and how to correct it?
A detailed description of the risk factors for developing cervical lordosis and its treatment can be found here

Tests and diagnostics

Pathological lordosis is diagnosed after examination and obtaining information after radiography. During the examination, the specialist determines the characteristics of posture, conducts special tests to determine whether the patient has fixed lordosis, and whether he has neurological disorders. The doctor also palpates the back muscles and examines the organs of the chest cavity.

If an expert suspects that a patient has developed pathological lordosis, he must undergo an X-ray examination of the spine. X-rays are carried out in two projections - frontal and lateral. The extent of the disease can be determined by taking lateral radiographs in a position where the back is maximally bent and extended. During the X-ray process, the mobility of the spine is assessed - it can be normal, increased, decreased. This study also makes it possible to determine violations of the shape, structure and relative position of the vertebrae.

Other methods such as CT and MRI can also be used in the diagnostic process.

Treatment

The first thing you need to do when hypolordosis appears is to completely reconsider your lifestyle. It is important to understand that straightening or smoothing of lordosis is a consequence of everyday behavior (unless, of course, the pathology is congenital).

Treatment of hypolordosis should be comprehensive and step-by-step. You need to undergo it under the supervision of an experienced doctor in order to recover as quickly as possible and eliminate the risk of complications. The specialist will conduct diagnostics (including CTG or MRI of the spine), take into account the existing symptoms and prescribe treatment.

Drugs

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Drug treatment of hypolordosis is prescribed to patients with significant pain or muscle-tonic syndrome . The main direction of drug treatment in this case is pain relief therapy.

The most commonly used drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are prescribed periodically when the pain in the affected area of the spine becomes unbearable.

The most frequently prescribed drugs are Diclofenac, Analgin, Sedalgin, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Pentalgin, etc. They are taken 1-3 tablets per day, depending on how severe the pain is. The duration of their use cannot exceed two weeks. In addition, drug treatment is recommended to be combined with physical therapy.

In addition to NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants (Sirdalud), topical preparations (Fastum gel, Diclak gel) and vitamin and mineral supplements . Taking the latter helps improve blood circulation, activate the immune system, and strengthen skeletal bones. Also, do not forget about medications to treat the underlying disease that caused the development of hypolordosis.

One of the most important drugs for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system is chondroprotectors.

Surgery

Surgical treatment of hypolordosis is used if other methods have proven ineffective . During the operation, the surgeon corrects the spinal column and fixes it in the anatomically correct position. Sometimes they resort to installing an implant, which allows you to restore the mobility of the spine when its physiological curve changes.

The recovery period after surgery is quite long and takes from a couple of months to a year and a half. You can speed up the rehabilitation process if you regularly engage in therapeutic exercises.

Exercises, exercise therapy

An important place in the treatment of hypolordosis is occupied by the original methods of Professor Blum , which are based on targeted biomechanical effects on deep muscles. The goals of such therapy are to strengthen weakened muscles, eliminate muscle imbalances, restore the anatomical integrity of the spinal column, and correct deformities.

Strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the back frame helps restore physiological curves and eliminate the root cause of hypolordosis. As a result of optimizing the geometry of the body, regenerative processes are activated with the restoration of the articular, cartilaginous and muscular elements of the spinal column.

, a set of static exercises using auxiliary supports, can also help with hypolordosis Asanas are performed as accurately as possible and are accompanied by breathing exercises. The technique allows you to improve your mood, eliminate pain in spasming muscles, and achieve complete relaxation of the body.

Iyengar yoga is suitable for patients of all ages and fitness levels . You need to start classes with simple poses, gradually moving to more complex ones and increasing the time of their fixation. The program for each person must be drawn up individually.

Video: “Exercises to eliminate hypolordosis”

Massage

Massage can be very effective for hypolordosis. The procedures are carried out in courses, twice a year . The duration of one session is from 30 to 40 minutes. Rubbing and stroking techniques are predominantly used to help reduce muscle soreness and improve microcirculation.

Treatment at home

You can use traditional medicine for hypolordosis to relieve pain.

The most popular recipes are the following:

Applications from white clay . Dilute the clay with water to a paste-like state, spread it on the neck or lower back in the area of lordosis, cover with plastic wrap, and wrap with a scarf. The application is done before bedtime and left overnight.
Compresses from medicinal plants . Used for severe pain. The essence of the recipe is to pour boiling water over the raw materials, leave, cool slightly and apply to the affected area.
Honey compresses . Honey is an excellent pain reliever. For pain, it is applied to the back of the head or lower back, covered with polyethylene and a scarf, and left overnight. Be careful: this method is not suitable for patients who are allergic to bee products.

Prevention

Prevention of hypolordosis is recommended starting from childhood, when the formation of the bone skeleton occurs.

Patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system and people leading a sedentary (mainly sedentary) lifestyle should pay attention to the recommendations below :

Pay attention to the rules for preventing hypolordosis. Maintain diet, rest and sleep.
Do exercises to strengthen your back muscles. Non-traumatic sports such as swimming, gymnastics, Pilates and yoga are great for this.
Lead an active lifestyle. If your work involves sitting for long periods of time, take regular breaks and do a simple warm-up (pelvic rotations, turns left and right). Don't neglect your morning exercises. Include abdominal exercises, because... Abdominal muscles allow you to maintain correct posture at any age.
Watch your weight. Get rid of extra pounds in a timely manner and prevent the development of obesity.
Maintain proper posture when walking and working at a desk. Ideally, your back should be perfectly straight. To form correct posture, you can periodically lean against a flat wall with the back of your head, shoulders, buttocks and heels.
Sleep on orthopedic pillows and mattresses.
Consult a doctor promptly if you experience any back problems.

Prevention

There are many ways to prevent lordosis. Their use will help you not only eliminate posture problems from your life, but also improve your health in general. First, try to eat right and avoid becoming overweight. Sports activities aimed at strengthening the back muscles and an active lifestyle will help get rid of many posture problems. Regularly monitor how you hold your back and purchase an orthopedic mattress. Following these simple rules will help you and your loved ones avoid a diagnosis called Lordosis.