The backbone is responsible for so much in our bodily balance, and any damage to it can affect how well we function and move, which is why seating for spinal conditions is so important.
When you see a healthy spine from the side, it has natural curves that help to absorb shock and cope with gravity’s effect on the body. When you look from behind, the spine should be straight down the middle of the back.
However, some people have spinal deformities. Whether it’s genetic, a result of poor positioning, illness, or an accident, the spine can curve and become misaligned therefore leading to further health problems.
Scoliosis, Lordosis, and Kyphosis are three kinds of spinal deformities. These are particularly prominent when we examine a person’s seated posture. Knowing the difference between these three irregularities is vital for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and any seating specialists.
Here you can see the differences in these 3 spinal conditions.
Kyphosis
Kyphosis is focussed around the upper part of the back. If you have a particularly rounded upper back (generally with a curvature of over 50 degrees), or your head seems further forward than the rest of your body, then you may have a kyphosis.
This can cause detrimental damage to physiological function and puts you at risk of developing pressure injuries at the top of their back.
People with a kyphosis sometimes develop pressure ulcers on the back of their heels as they put an inordinate amount of pressure there to anchor their position. They may also find that their back and legs get tired easily.
This spinal deformity can be caused by things as simple as poor posture, or by something as serious as abnormal vertebrae or Spina Bifida. Osteoporosis is one of the most common causes of a kyphosis, as vertebrae are more susceptible to decay and cannot support the user’s weight as comfortably.
A kyphotic spine is noticeably rounder towards the top.
Lordosis
On the contrary to a kyphosis, lordosis affects the lower back. This is where you have an irregular inward lumbar curve meaning that the individual appears to be leaning back a bit.
Your buttocks may also be more pronounced when sat down, or you may have an unusually large arch in your lower back when laid on a hard surface. This can cause pain in the lumbar area that can be relieved with anti-inflammatory medication, or by wearing a back brace.
Building up muscle strength in the abdominals can also help to treat a lordosis. Things as simple as losing weight can also help to relieve the effects of a lordosis.
Having such a severe curve in the lower back can be indicative of an over-rotated pelvis, increased tone in hip flexors, or even having weak abdominal muscles in comparison to extensors. These things can encourage the person’s lumbar to curve forwards too much and create a lordosis. People with achondroplasia may also find that their spine has a lordosis because of their small stature.
Here you can see how lordosis extends the lumbar curve and tilts the pelvis forwards.
Scoliosis
Arguably the most well-known spinal deformity is a scoliosis. When you look from behind, a scoliosis bends the spine away from the mid-line of the back so that it may become ‘C’ or ‘S’ shaped.
In turn, this may make you stand or sit unevenly, with one shoulder lower than the other. It is clearer to identify a scoliosis when looking from behind as there could be twists in your posture or a shoulder blade or hip that is sitting lower than the other.
The causes of scoliosis are not as clear as lordosis or kyphosis, but it is suspected to be a genetic defect.
Scoliosis is most often associated with pelvic obliquity (a horizontally tilted pelvis), osteoporosis (decay of the vertebrae), or pelvic rotation (windsweeping). More extreme scoliosis can lead to compression of the person’s ribcage and internal organs, so it is important for doctors to monitor the curve.
A back brace might be needed for younger people with a scoliosis, but surgery is sometimes needed to correct the spine.
Scoliosis tends to make the person’s spine goe more S-shaped.
Summary
These three curves all differ and can cause stresses and pressure on various parts of the person’s body. It’s important to monitor the curve and take action to prevent further damage sooner rather than later.
These spinal deformities will be common knowledge for physios, OTs and other healthcare professionals, but it’s always good to have a guide handy should you need it. For more information on specialist seating for people with scoliosis, lordosis, and kyphosis, download our free Healthcare Professional’s Complete Guide to Specialist Seating Assessments eBook.
Brian is a university graduate with a particular interest in researching and writing about healthcare topics, including medical conditions, and current NHS issues and solutions. To ensure his articles are relevant and accurate, Brian uses UK government and private sector reports, and draws on a vast network of independent occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and healthcare professionals to both inform and verify his work.
