Abnormal kyphosis may cause a hump-like appearance in the upper back.
Usually treated with surgical methods, chiropractic care remains the best non-surgical option. It can help reduce pain, stiffness, and other kyphosis symptoms.
The telltale sign of kyphosis is a rounded middle back that causes a hump. The first step in chiropractic treatment of this condition is to determine the root cause of the appearance.
The most common cause is chronic posture issues; however, you can also be born with this disfiguration. It may also develop over time due to a trauma or Scheuermann’s disease.
Your chiropractor will determine the cause of your kyphosis and develop a treatment plan for you.
How is Kyphosis Diagnosed?
To help confirm the diagnosis, your chiropractor take your full medical history and do a physical examination. You may also need follow up imaging tests.
They may use techniques called motion and static palpation to feel for tenderness, tightness, and motion within the spinal joints.
Goals of Chiropractic Care
If your kyphosis is caused by poor posture, your chiropractor may be able to help you reduce the “hump” by helping to correct your stance and sit posture.
If your condition isn’t posture associated, chiropractic care for kyphosis can:
- Reduce inflammation
- Lessen muscle spasms
- Improve strength
- Widen range of motion
- Reduce chronic pain
- Slow the process of degeneration
- Treat the intervertebral discs
Kyphosis Treatment
Your chiropractor may use a type of spinal manipulation to adjust the spine and improve motion. Spinal manipulation is an active, hands-on treatment with several varying techniques.
- Flexion-distraction technique is a gentle, non-thrusting spinal manipulation that is used for people with kyphosis that is associated with degenerative disc disease and/or motion restrictions in the thoracic spine (mid back).
- Specific spinal manipulation helps your chiropractor identify restricted joints or those that show abnormal motion. Using a gentle thrusting technique, he or she can rapidly stretch soft tissue and stimulate the nervous system to return normal motion to the spine.
- Instrument-assisted manipulation is another non-thrusting spinal manipulation. Your chiropractor uses a hand-held instrument to apply force without thrusting into the spine.
To help reduce inflammation caused by kyphosis.
- E-Stim – uses a low frequency electrical current to stimulate muscles to decrease inflammation.
- Ultrasound – helps ease muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. It works by sending sound waves deep into muscle tissues, creating a gentle heat to enhance circulation.
- Trigger point release helps the chiropractor identify specific tight, painful points on a muscle. He or she places direct pressure on these points to relieve tension.
- Manual joint stretching and resistance can help reduce kyphosis symptoms. Muscle energy therapy—an osteopathic technique—is an example of a resistance manual joint therapy.
- Soft tissue therapy can help treat any injured tissues. Your chiropractor may use Graston technique (muscle scraping or Guasha)—an instrument-assisted therapy—in which he or she performs gentle repeated strokes of the instrument over the muscle injury.
- Additionally, you may be prescribed physical therapy exercises to help restore normal spinal motion.
If you see yourself in this blog, please come see us. There is never a reason to live in pain. We can help assist your body to heal naturally and comfortably.
Give us a call at the office 239-332-2555 – The office of Kaster Chiropractic and Associates in Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. owner and founder.