Swayback vs. a Hump: The Difference Between Lordosis and Kyphosis Lisa Marie Conklin
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Kyphosis vs. lordosis
A quick look at your back will tell you that your spine curves, at least a little bit.
Normally, your spine will curve inward in the neck (cervical) and low-back (lumbar) regions, a curvature called lordosis. The outward curvature of your spine, specifically in the upper and mid-back (thoracic region), is called kyphosis.
Both of those curves are totally normal. It is only when these curves are excessive that we have a problem, says Joseph Davey, MD, chief of pediatric orthopedics at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.
7 Treatments Used to Help Correct Scoliosis Lisa Marie Conklin
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What is scoliosis?
Most of the time, we don t pay too much attention to the shape of our back. Plain and simple, it s relatively flat and straight up and down.
But if you have the spinal problem known as scoliosis, your spine curves in a different way than the average person s.
The curve might veer to the left or right, giving your spine the look of the letter C. Or the curve might zigzag in both directions so your spine resemble an S.
When the curve measures more than 10 degrees, it is considered to be scoliosis.
Parents: Here s What You Need to Know About Scheuermann s Kyphosis msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.