Every person's spine has natural curves in the neck, upper back and lower back. These curves create an S-shape of the spine, which are called lordotic and kyphotic curves. They help the body:
- absorb shock
- support the weight of the head
- align the position of the head in relation to the pelvis
- stabilize and support the torso
- provide flexibility of movements and bending of the body
Lordosis that does not exceed the natural lordotic curvature is normal. But if the spine bends too much inward, this is already pathological lordosis. Pathological lordosis significantly changes the distribution of load vectors on the spinal structures, which can lead to the development of pain and discomfort. Severe lordosis (untreated) may affect the ability to move.
Treatment for lordosis depends on both the degree of change in curvature and the cause of development. If lordosis disappears when bending, then there is no need to consult a doctor. In such cases, it is enough to exercise on your own to strengthen the muscles. If the curve remains unchanged after bending forward, then you need to consult a doctor.
Causes of lordosis
Lordosis is a condition that can develop in people of any age. Certain medical conditions and risk factors increase the likelihood of developing lordosis and include:
- Spondylolisthesis: This is a spinal disorder in which one vertebra moves forward in relation to the vertebra below. The condition is treated both conservatively and surgically.
- Achondroplasia: This disease is one of the most common types of dwarfism.
- Osteoporosis: a systemic disorder of bone tissue with loss of minerals and decreased bone strength.
- Osteosarcoma: This is a bone tumor that usually develops in the knee, hip, or shoulder area
- Obesity: is an epidemic in developed countries. Excess weight increases the load on the spinal structures and contributes to the development of lordosis in the lumbar region.
- Excessive physical activity: performing movements with excessive extension of the torso (for example, playing a sport such as gymnastics).
- Arthritis: In some cases, prolonged inflammation in the joints can contribute to the development of lordosis.
- Calcium deficiency: can lead to decreased bone mineralization (osteoporosis), which contributes to the development of lordosis.
- Kyphosis: excessive backward protrusion of the spine can lead to the development of compensatory lordosis
- Discitis: a pathology in which an inflammatory process develops in the intervertebral space
- Benign juvenile lordosis: This type of curvature occurs in children, but the problem often goes away on its own as the child grows
- Genetic diseases or muscular dystrophies are also sometimes the cause of lordosis.
How is pathology detected?
The doctor identifies spinal deformity based on a visual examination of the patient and an x-ray examination (frontal and lateral projection). At the initial appointment, the peculiarities of posture are determined, tests are carried out to determine the nature of lordosis, and there are concomitant neurological disorders. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo standard blood and urine tests, as well as rheumatoid factor. In addition, instrumental research methods are also used:
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- X-rays of light.
- ECG.
- CT scan.
- Ultrasound of the pelvis.
They allow you to determine the degree of development of lordosis, choose the appropriate treatment tactics, as well as the appearance of other disorders of the internal organs against the background of the disease.
X-ray is the most effective and fastest way to diagnose lordosis
Types of Lordosis
Lordosis in the lumbar spine
Lordosis in the lumbar spine is most common. The easiest way to check this lordosis is for a person to lie on a flat surface with his back. When holding your hand under the lower back, there should be little free space. If there is lordosis, there will be more space between the back and the surface. If the lordosis is pronounced, then the curvature will be determined visually. And when viewed from the side, a protrusion of the abdomen and buttocks will be visible.
Cervical lordosis
In a healthy spine, the neck should look like a very wide "C" shape, with the curvature toward the back of the neck. We can talk about cervical lordosis when the spine in the cervical region has an abnormal curvature.
This could mean:
- Too much bend.
- Bending in the wrong direction is also called straightened cervical lordosis.
- The curvature is shifted to the right.
- The curvature is shifted to the left.
Self-identification of violations
You can diagnose pathological lordosis yourself. Such self-diagnosis allows you to detect the problem in a timely manner and promptly contact specialists to correct the situation. The algorithm for conducting a simple test is as follows:
- You need to stand near a perfectly flat vertical surface.
- Heels, buttocks, shoulder blades and the back of the head are pressed tightly against the wall.
- You should try to stick your hand between the surface and the lower back.
- The results are evaluated.
If the hand passed between the back and the wall with some difficulty, then physiological lordosis is preserved and is in normal condition. When there is no free space between them, then we are talking about the development of hypolordosis, a smoothing of the deflection. If excess space for palm movement is detected, we can talk about the presence of a pathological condition that needs to be treated.
Symptoms
When the spine deviates from the physiological norm, there is an excessive load on a certain muscle group, which causes muscle spasm and stiffness. Improper distribution of loads on the vertebrae, discs, and muscles can lead to the development of pain that can radiate to the neck, shoulders, arms, and even legs. The following symptoms are characteristic of lordosis.
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Shooting pain in the lower back or neck
- Feeling of general weakness
- Sleep disturbance
- Impaired bladder control
- Impaired control of muscle balance
- Protruding buttocks
- Decreased flexibility in the lumbar spine
- Pain when touched in the cervical or lumbar region
In people who run a lot, lumbar lordosis can lead to secondary problems, including Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendonitis can, in turn, lead to excessive bone growth, thickening of the tendon, and limited range of motion. Lumbar lordosis, if left untreated for a long time, can lead to the development of sciatica. With sciatica, the pain can be in the legs or feet and is usually located on one side of the leg or buttocks. This pain usually appears after prolonged sitting or standing periods of sitting. In fact, movement reduces pain.
Characteristic
Physiological lordosis is a deflection of the bone support of the body, intended by nature. It allows you to keep your body in good shape and easily endure any load. With normal development, a person has 4 curvatures:
- In the neck area.
- In the thoracic region.
- In the lower back.
- Sacral flexure.
Normally, a person should not experience lateral curvatures; here the column is straight. In addition to understanding what physiological lordosis is, you should know what influences its formation. In this process, a large role is played by: the pelvic girdle, shoulders, and muscular frame. The natural curvature of the ridge develops in the first year of life and allows a person to walk normally on two legs, easily bend over to pick up a fallen object, keep his head level and absorb shocks that arise when walking.
Lordosis in children
Lordosis often appears in childhood without any obvious cause. This condition is called benign juvenile lordosis. Its development is associated with the fact that the muscles around the child’s hips are weak or tight. Benign juvenile lordosis usually resolves on its own once the child's growth is complete.
Lordosis can also be a sign of hip dislocation, especially if the child has had an accident or fallen somewhere.
Other conditions that can cause lordosis in children are usually related to problems with the nervous system and muscles. These conditions are quite rare and include:
- Cerebral paralysis
- Myelomeningocele, a congenital abnormality in which the spinal cord protrudes through unfused vertebrae
- Muscular dystrophy, a group of inherited diseases that cause muscle weakness
- Spinal muscular atrophy, an inherited disorder that causes involuntary movements
- Arthrogrypposis is a congenital pathology in which the joints cannot move fully.
Complications
If no measures are taken, a number of serious complications may occur with lordosis:
- Impaired respiratory function due to the fact that the diaphragm is deformed.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Chronic constipation.
- Too much mobility of the vertebrae.
- Deforming arthrosis of the joints between the articular processes of the vertebrae.
- Deterioration of disc stability between vertebrae.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- Discs falling out.
- Problems with kidney function, leading to frequent urination , pyelonephritis , etc.
- Compression of the spinal cord, leading to impaired urination and defecation, immobilization of the legs, and infertility .
Lordosis in pregnant women
Many pregnant women experience back pain and show signs of lordosis, a protruding belly and buttocks. But numerous studies have shown that lordosis during pregnancy is actually a compensatory reaction of the spine, regulating the alignment of the center of gravity.
Lordosis in pregnancy is characterized by lower back pain - it can be caused by changes in blood flow in the body and stress on the lumbar spine, and the pain usually disappears after birth.
Preventive measures
Is it possible to prevent lumbar lordosis? If it’s not innate, then it’s fine. The best prevention is considered to be an active lifestyle, monitoring your health, following nutritional rules, and exercising.
Exercises are done in the morning, and regularly, and not occasionally. Going to the gym or fitness club is also welcome, you just need to monitor the loads and follow the technique of working with equipment.
Exercising in the morning as a way to prevent spinal curvature
Prevention will be helped by following a regimen, healthy eating, proper rest and sleep (for which you need to purchase a hard mattress and an orthopedic pillow).
Adequate rest on an orthopedic mattress and pillow helps maintain spinal health
If your job is sedentary, be sure to control your posture. In between, hang on the horizontal bar or otherwise warm up.
Charging at work
Diagnostics
Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your medical history, symptoms, and physical examination. During the physical examination, the doctor will ask you to bend forward and to the side. This allows you to determine:
- whether the curvature is flexible or not
- range of motion
- Is there any straightening of the spinal column?
- if there are any anomalies
The doctor may also ask questions such as:
- When did the patient notice the excessive curvature in the back?
- Is the curvature getting worse?
- Does the shape of the curvature change?
- Where does the patient feel pain?
After narrowing down the possible causes, it is necessary to conduct a full examination using objective diagnostic methods:
- Radiography. This diagnostic method is used to measure and evaluate curvature. Using an X-ray of the entire spine, the doctor or radiologist measures the angle of the curvature. Based on this measurement, it is often possible to determine treatment tactics.
- Bone scan (PET). A bone scan is an imaging technique that uses radioactive substances to diagnose bone diseases and tumors; to accurately determine the cause of bone pain or inflammation. This method allows you to rule out any infection or fractures.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This diagnostic procedure uses a magnetic field to produce detailed images of organs and structures in the human body. This imaging technique is performed to rule out any morphological changes in the spinal cord and nerves.
- Computed tomography (CT). This diagnostic imaging procedure is used to qualitatively visualize morphological changes in bone tissue. Scanning CT scanning is more informative than radiography.
- Blood tests.
What is the danger of the disease
The spine is the foundation of the entire body. Any of its pathological changes have a detrimental effect on the functioning of individual organs and the body as a whole. Mainly organs in those areas where the curvature is localized are affected. Problems also affect the spine. Inflammation of the vertebrae, their destruction, prolapse, the appearance of hernias, osteochondrosis, deforming arthrosis with subsequent loss of performance are possible.
Treatment of lordosis
After making a positive diagnosis, the question arises, how to treat lordosis? As a rule, minor changes in curvature (lordosis) do not require special treatment. In severe cases, there are various treatment options for lordosis:
- Analgesics to reduce pain
- Anti-inflammatory drugs to control inflammation
- Manual therapy
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Swimming
- Exercise therapy
- Corseting
- Weight reduction
- Electrical stimulation
- Vitamin D supplement
- Surgical interventions
With physical exercise, the correct biomechanics of the spinal column and motion segments are restored, which, in turn, reduces the discomfort associated with the condition. Even regular stretching exercises can be beneficial. It is most effective to use physical exercises that a physical therapy doctor selects for each patient individually, taking into account the characteristics of a particular person. Systematic exercise can significantly reduce symptoms. In addition, exercises can strengthen the stability of the spinal column.
Positive awareness also plays a role in treating lordosis. This simply means that a person develops awareness of body position and teaches his brain how to recognize when he is in a truly incorrect position.
Who will treat you
Karavaev Nikolay Nikolaevich
Chiropractor, Osteopath, Neurologist, Neurosurgeon
Read more
Dremin Evgeniy Vitalievich
Neurologist, reflexologist, chiropractor.
More details
Prevention of lordosis
Physiological lordosis during the period of child growth is a normal process of formation of the musculoskeletal system, but the appearance of excessive inward bending in adults can lead to the secondary development of various pathological conditions. Therefore, it is important to carry out preventive measures for a healthy back from the school period and throughout life.
To prevent lordosis of the cervical spine, as well as lordosis and straightening of the lumbar spine, you need to follow simple rules:
- Control your posture in all situations.
- Don't put excess stress on your back
- Do light warm-ups during the working day (this is especially true for office workers).
- During pregnancy, wear a special corset.
- Get enough physical activity (for example, walk more).
- Monitor your diet and periodically take multivitamins to strengthen the spine (vitamins B, D and A, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus).
If suspicious symptoms appear, consult a doctor.
Cervical and lumbar lordosis are both an anatomical sign of a healthy person and a dangerous pathology. To prevent physiological lordosis from turning into a serious spinal disease, it is important to be aware of the symptoms and follow the simplest preventive measures.
Forecast
The prognosis for this disease in adults may vary, but it is generally favorable. Pathological processes proceed slowly, so it is possible to diagnose the disease and treat it before critical complications appear.
A worsening prognosis is likely under the following circumstances:
- Previous spinal diseases or injuries.
- Spinal pathologies that appear in older people.
- Advanced stage of the disease.