Scoliosis refers to a sideways (lateral) curvature of the spine, but when your spine curves forward, this is often referred to as a Dowager’s Hump. If you have Osteoporosis of the spine (a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue), your vertebrate can fracture, causing Kyphosis (an excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching of the back) or a spinal back hump.
Where did the term originate from?
Because so many women suffered from untreated bone loss, Kyphosis was mainly associated with older women. Since the definition of dowager is “dignified elderly women”, and due to the fact that many older women developed this particular condition, people began to refer to the curvature as a ‘dowager’s hump’ – regardless of the sufferer’s age or gender.
What Causes Dowager’s Hump?
When your spinal vertebrae are impacted by osteoporosis, they can become brittle, and fracture as a result. This is more common with patients who bend forward at the waist, putting pressure on the spine. There are 3 types of spinal fractures: Wedge Fractures, Biconcave Fractures and Crush Fractures. The primary cause for developing Dowager’s hump, is a wedge fracture, which refers to the collapsing of the front vertebrae. This causes the vertebrae to tip forward, which results in the spine to becoming misaligned. As more and more vertebrae collapse, the sufferer’s back will become increasingly bowed. Quite often, you won’t realise that you have a wedge fracture, as they are a silent abnormality which rarely cause pain. If you notice slight rounding of your back, however, it’s important that you seek medical help before it increases in severity.
Can Dowager’s Hump be Treated?
If you suffer from
Dowager’s Hump, you’ll be happy to know it can be treated without the need for surgery. Here at
Scoliosis SOS, we treat a variety of spinal conditions using our carefully developed
ScolioGold method, including those suffering from kyphosis. This treatment programme is our own, unique approach to spinal therapy, which combines a wide range of proven, non-surgical techniques, to provide the best possible results for our patients.
If you wish to learn more about the methods included in our ScolioGold treatment programme, click here. To book an initial consultation, or to approach us with any additional questions, simply click here to get in touch.
