What is Kyphosis

The normal spine, when viewed from behind,
appears straight throughout its entire length. However,
when one looks at the spine from the side, there are
two visible curvatures. There is a gentle rounding of
the upper back from the shoulders to the bottom of the
ribcage known as thoracic kyphosis and an opposite
curve in the lower back known as lumbar lordosis.
These two opposite curvatures of the spine are
necessary in the normal spine to balance the trunk
and head over the pelvis.
 From the 1st to the 12th thoracic vertebrae there
should be a slight kyphosis ranging from 20 ° to 45°. When
the “roundness” of the upper spine increases past 45° it is
called “hyperkyphosis”. Scheuermann’s kyphosis is the
most classic form of hyperkyphosis and is the result of
wedged vertebrae that develop during adolescence. The
cause is not currently known and the condition appears to be
multi-factorial. It is seen more frequently in males than
females.