Hunchback (Kyphosis) Correction: Get Rid of a Hump

1. Kyphosis — An Overview

1.1 Structure of the Spinal Area

From the side, the spine resembles a double S. The cervical spine and the lumbar spine curve forward (lordosis), while curvature to the back in the thoracic spine is called kyphosis. The sacrum – located at the base of the lumbar vertebrae connected to the pelvis – also curves outwards.

2. Symptoms of a Hunchback and Self-Test

As well as physical problems, in terms of overall health, for people who suffer this condition, the appearance of a hunchback in the spinal area can also be a psychological strain, leading to mental health conditions like depression.

2.1 Typical Symptoms

Apart from psychological health impairments, the following symptoms indicate hyperkyphosis:

• Sore back
• Agonizing sensations, radiating into the arms and legs
• Numbness in arms and legs
• Numbness in the buttocks
• Protruding shoulders
• Shoulders pulled forward and upwards
• Neck pain
• Loss of height
• Shortness of breath

Deformations of the upper body are also indicators. If these are very pronounced, people can also suffer the following complaints:

• Upright posture is no longer possible – kyphosis becomes more severe.
• Freedom of movement is restricted.
• Internal organs no longer have sufficient space.
• Restricted chest volume means the lungs can’t expand completely, leading to breathing problems.
• Lung function often deteriorates, especially in older patients.¹⁾
• Possible digestive problems.
• As the internal organs become constricted, cardiovascular problems can occur.
• Bending can affect gait as the discomfort makes people suffering this condition walk unsteadily and slowly.
• To compensate for the curving of the upper back, the pelvis tilts forward as the body tries to maintain a normal center of gravity. This can lead to further postural damage and a loss of body height.

Noticed a slight hump forming? Immediately start doing our exercises!

2.2 Curvatures of the Spine at a Glance

A curvature rarely occurs alone: several malpositions are likely to present at the same time or be mutually reinforcing.¹⁾

2.3 Hunchback Detection

A simple test to check if you have hyperkyphosis:

• Stand with your back to a wall and lean against it.
• The back of your head, top of your back, buttocks, and heels should touch the wall at the same time.
• If you notice that the head protrudes forward and the back of your head is not in contact with the wall, it could be indicative of a hunchback.

3. Causes of a Hunchback

3.1 Congenital Kyphosis and Acquired Kyphosis

Hyperkyphosis can occur from birth. However, a hunchback often develops during life, many sufferers being over 60 years old. Doctors also distinguish between functional and fixed kyphosis:

• Fixed: As the name suggests, this is a deformation of the spine that can no longer be corrected, but discomfort can still be treated.
• Functional: Caused by incorrect posture. Sometimes other spinal areas are bent or twisted. The patient is still able to stand upright so postural kyphosis can be remedied, and the discomfort eased.

3.2 Diseases as a Cause

Hyperkyphosis can sometimes be associated with serious diseases. Some of the clinical causes include:

• Scheuermann’s disease
• Bechterew’s disease
• Osteoporosis
• Trauma, tumors or consequences of surgery

3.3 Hunchback Without Medical Cause

Often there are no medical reasons for the curvature of the thoracic spine. A strain of the vertebrae in childhood can lead to later spinal damage. Frequent sitting in adulthood, too little movement, or one-sided sports are also associated with this health condition.

3.4 How We See It: Musculofascial Tensions in the Upper Body

Our decades of experience show that in most cases, a hunchback is caused by the following factors:

• Frequent sitting in everyday life,
• Lack of exercise,
• Movements that are too one-sided.

Long days in the office, staring at screens, means our shoulders and arms come forward; simultaneously, our neck is stretched to look at the monitor. In this way, our full range of motion is not used, so muscles and fasciae are overstretched or become unyielding. Learn more about the effects of bad posture in this video.

What Are Fasciae?

Fasciae are the flexible part of our connective tissues. Through the narrow spaces between our muscles and fasciae, interstitial fluid flows. Supplying our cells with fresh nutrients stimulates the cilia of the fibroblasts to produce new fascia threads.

What Causes the Pain?

Since muscles and fasciae are used in a forward position, the chest musculature is pulled towards the front. At the back of your body, the extenders counteract these forces to try and keep the upper body upright. This means your spinal area is pulled from two sides simultaneously.

Receptors on the periosteum measure the tension in our body and pass the information on to the brain. This sends a signal pain (felt as a burning sensation between the shoulder blades) as soon as the pulling forces become so strong that damage is imminent.

How Tensile Forces Cause Severe Kyphosis

Our everyday posture affects our whole body. Add lack of movement and a vicious circle often develops:

• The abdominal muscles pull the sternum down due to permanent bending.
• For most activities, we have our arms in front of us which causes our pectoral muscles to shorten and pulls our shoulders forward.
• If our back muscles cannot sufficiently counteract the strong pull of our abdominal and chest muscles, the result is a hunchback.
• If tension worsens kyphosis will worsen. Movements become difficult because of discomfort and muscular-fascial tissue becomes even more unyielding.
• The neck is overstretched and a slipped disc can result.

4. Treatment of a Hunchback

4.1 Our Pain Relief Concept

Muscles under too much tension cause agonizing discomfort. That’s where our tripartite pain therapy comes in: utilising the concepts of foam rolling, stretching, and osteopressure, the muscles and fasciae can be relaxed, pain reduced, and tension decreased.

Osteopressure is a quick aid for use at home. In acute cases, we recommend consulting one of our trained specialists (if available in your region). They will ensure all the bone points that could be responsible for your discomfort are pressed and give you the information you need to perform the exercises correctly.

Note: Osteopressure does not ensure freedom from discomfort or permanently straighten the upper body. You cannot train your hunchback away with this method alone; you need to do our stretching exercises regularly to normalize the tension in the long term.

Muscle-Fascia Stretches

By using the foam rolling massage technique, you can enhance the effects of the stretch and sometimes even accelerate it.

Stretching dissolves muscular-fascial tensions in the chest, frequently resulting in less or no discomfort and an increasingly straight posture.

Note: Your condition may only decrease slightly or not at all, and it may take months or years. But you can reduce or even eliminate your discomfort if you regularly perform our exercise programs.

4.2 Conventional Treatment Methods

Therapy for hyperkyphosis might include corsets, orthoses (i.e. a brace or splint), physiotherapy, or in more severe cases, surgery. Regardless of the extent or cause, after consultation with your doctor, our exercises can help with the discomfort.

Get The Best Exercises For Back Pain

Download our FREE PDF GUIDE and start relieving your back pain now.

All gain. No pain.

I agree to the terms and conditions of the privacy policy.