Kyphosis of the spine: thoracic, cervical, treatment, photos

Kyphosis, in norm, is the natural curvature of the spine. A person has two natural kyphosis – kyphosis of the thoracic spine and kyphosis sacral. They form the amortization of the spine, allowing the person to better accept myself walking on the ground and allows you to safely sit. Kyphosis also called pathological changes in the structure of the spine, where it curves retrograde, forming irregular arcs. Isolated kyphosis of the lumbar spine and cervical kyphosis. Often there is a kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine.

Anatomy in brief

The spine consists of vertebrae 31-35, and is divided into 5 departments. Each spine has a body, transverse processes and spinous process, the arc and cutting vertebrae. The first seven vertebrae most fragile and thin, make up the cervical spine. The next twelve are the thoracic, have a more massive body and prominent spinous process.

Five lumbar are the lumbar vertebrae larger, spinous processes do not stick out. The following five form the sacral region. The sacral vertebrae are fused together, forming a solid bone – the sacrum. For the sacrum followed by 2 to 5 coccygeal vertebrae that are lipotroponam tail. They are fused and form the coccyx.

The vertebrae form a spinal column, which houses the spinal cord – the neural highway from the brain to the organs. It transmits nerve impulses and is responsible for unconditioned reflexes of the organism – otdelyvanija hands during a burn or other stimulation. There is also a ligamentous apparatus, which represents the intervertebral disc and ligaments, which are located between the vertebrae.

In the spinal column has natural curves. There are two bending forward, or anterograde – lordosis. Lordosis is observed in the thoracic and sacral section. Retrograde curves, or bends backward, are located in the cervical and lumbar spine, and are called kyphosis.

Causes of kyphosis

The reasons for the formation of different degrees of kyphosis include primarily changes in children because the spine in that moment is the most flexible and easy to change. Doctors identify the following causes of kyphoscoliosis and its treatment:

• Incorrect posture;
• Trauma, including birth;
• Violations of the formation of fabrics.

Kyphosis of the thoracic spine is a strong pathological bending of the spine, where the vertebrae are bent at a value close to the right angle of 90 degrees. Thoracic kyphosis is the result of poor posture. At constant incorrect position while sitting, flexible children's spine depends on body position and muscle tension.

Thus, thoracic kyphosis will form a hump on the back, and also pathologically to change the location of the ribs. The compensation that is due to attempts by the body to correct the situation, can lead to increased too chest – the chest is a "wheel".

Injuries can not only cause curvature of the spine – the vertebral fracture is an extremely painful disease that can lead to loss of the lower limbs and compel the person to a wheelchair. The most common cause of kyphosis of the lumbar spine is injury during childbirth.

The reason for this can be the improper actions of the midwives or the circumstances, violations may develop due to improper location of the fetus or problems with the location of the pelvis in women.

Sacral kyphosis can also occur due to improper actions of the midwives. However, since all bones, including cranial bones of a newborn's brain in the first months of life is extremely flexible and can easily deform and return your form, birth injuries rarely lead to serious pathological changes.

Also kyphosis can cause problems with the formation of tissue – osteoporosis. In this case, kyphosis thoracic and kyphosis of the lumbar spine will develop due to violations of the density of the vertebrae, violations of the size of the spinal disks or disturbances in the muscular layers.

Symptoms

The kyphosis symptoms begin to be noticeable at an early age. The symptoms of kyphosis doctors include:

• Symptoms – humps, curvature of the breast;
• Neurological symptoms – back pain, muscle weakness;
• Manifestations of arterial hypertrophy – numbnessextremities.

Symptoms become visible in rare cases, upon the occurrence of kyphosis of 1 degree and always visible in the manifestation of kyphosis 2 degrees. To speak will be primarily kyphosis of the thoracic spine – in the form of a hump on the back. In this form, for thoracic kyphosis treatment should be immediate.

Pain can occur because of pinched nerves or development of disease processes tissue changes. The pain will occur depending on the position of the body of the patient and his bending of the spine – usually increase if you try to straighten his back.

Since changes of the vertebrae bend the spinal cord and its nerves will be a variety of pathological changes in the innervated areas. Kyphosis a large extent can affect internal organs to impair their function – digestive tract, lungs, heart. Kyphosis of the thoracic spine requires urgent treatment if pathology begins to affect the heart rate.

In addition, there will be weakness in the muscles of the upper and lower extremities. This is caused by disturbances in the metabolism of nervous tissue. Decreases the amount of neurotransmitters that are responsible for the transmission of impulses in the nervous tissue. The reduction will result in a delayed reaction, lethargy.

When the bend is also damaged, the blood flow in the arteries of the spinal channel. This is reflected in the numbness of the limbs – not enough blood goes to the muscles and skin, eventually this can cause severe degenerative tissue. When kyphosis of the third degree may be observed necrotic process.

Treatment of kyphosis in the thoracic spine in this case will be directed at addressing such changes, which can cause severe problems in the future and worsen the condition of the tissues, up to amputation.

The degree of kyphosis

Medicine identifies three stages of kyphosis. Each of them is characterized by its own characteristics, which determine their treatment. A common symptom for all stages is slouching, which progresses with the growth stages and develops into a hump. Kyphosis first degree will be externally visible only to stoop, strong changes in the body is not yet happening. Healing the masses may rectify this degree without severe consequences for the patient.

Kyphosis second-degree outwardly noticeable even under clothing – a person begins to form a hump. Appears hump, the inability to take up any one position. Start strong deformation of the chest, which can lead to complications with heart and lungs.

Kyphosis of the third degree are the terminal – changes can lead to disability, developing disorders in all organs of the body, the spinal cord experiences severe friction during the movement of his shell thinning. It is impossible to straighten the kyphosis is fixed, the shape of the spine remains unchanged.

Treatment

How to treat kyphosis can meet the podiatrist. Physician assistant must first explain to you what is kyphosis and how to cure the disease. Itself therapy will depend on the degree of curvature of the spine. There are cases when kyphosis develops a compensatory lordosis in the lower part of the spine.

Basically, the correction of the spine comprises:

• Drug therapy;
• The formation of back muscles;
• The use of formative items – corsets, bondage;
• Traction of the vertebral column;
• Surgery.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy is aimed at alleviating the symptoms, increasing blood circulation and of nerve impulses. It improves the General condition, partially relieves pain and strengthens back muscles. It is important to correct, as subsequent therapy consists of correction of the position of the spine method of muscle gain. Also often prescribe glucocorticoids to relieve the pain syndrome from injury to tissue, however they can cause negative effects on the immune system. Effective is methods of production of the closures, which represent an injection of lidocaine or novocaine in the affected area.

The formation of the back muscles

The formation of the proper development of the back muscles leads to align the directions of spins, which improves the prognosis for correction with the help of corsets. The methods of muscle training include therapeutic exercise, massage and physical therapy. Especially to correct the kyphosis can help methods of self-monitoring of posture and improvement of back while sleeping and sitting.

Therapeutic exercise is a method of physical exercise which will increase muscle mass. Sometimes together with them are used spasmodic remedies, which cause tension of the muscles and displacement of the vertebrae. The massage is aimed at the formation of a "relaxed" zones. Such zones leads to tension in other groups, which begin to pull the vertebraein the right direction and improve your overall position.

Forming elements of the type of corsets are designed to maintain a correct posture all the time – while walking, sitting and sleeping. Corsets are divided by its rigidity. Moreover, the harder the corset, the harder it is, but the greater the therapeutic effect.

The effect of the corset is achieved through the maintenance of posture, tension of certain muscles, which straighten your spine and permanent deformation of the spine. The more there will be a similar impact, the greater the effect. Treatment of kyphosis in adults is possible only by using such methods, because the muscles are not strong enough to independently deform the spine.

Traction post and operations

Spinal traction is performed with special machines that slowly stretch the spine. When properly selected the force of the pulling and securing the healthy part can be quickly corrected. This technique is associated with rather painful consequences – a sprain causes pain.

Surgery directed to correct the shape of the damaged vertebrae. Spondylectomy and spondylolisthesis change the shape of the vertebrae and ligaments. This method is applicable in all cases and only applies when strong deformation of the individual vertebrae.

Remember that is there a cure for kyphosis and how to correct such a curvature can only answer specialist. Don't try to resort to traditional methods since the curve may hurt the internal organs and cause serious consequences. Be aware of their actions and don't rely on TV and the Internet.