Lordosis

Lordosis is the medical definition for the forward curved spine in your neck or lower back. Your cervical spine (the medical name for the part of your spine in your neck) and lumbar spine (your lower back) are naturally curved a little forward, toward the front of your body. This naturally occurring lordosis helps you maintain your posture and absorb shock when you move.

Symptoms of lordosis: Many people don’t have any physical symptoms of lordosis. In fact, you might never know you have it until you’re diagnosed. 

It’s usually easier for other people to notice changes in your posture, such as:

• Your head and neck leaning further forward than usual.
• Your hips pushed forward.
• Your butt sticking out.
• Extra space beneath your lower back when you’re lying down.

Causes of lordosis: Most cases of lordosis are idiopathic the medical definition for having no cause. They develop on their own. Swayback that affects kids usually has no cause. 

This can also be identified in people with increased thoracic kyphosis. Some medical conditions can cause lordosis, including:

• Spondylolisthesis.
• Achondroplasia.
• Osteoporosis.
• Osteosarcoma.
• Muscular dystrophy.
• Kyphosis.
• Static encephalopathy.

Diagnosis of lordosis: Our provider will diagnose lordosis with a physical exam. They’ll look at your posture and check your spine for any unnatural curvature. They’ll check to see if the lordotic curve is flexible. If your provider notices signs of lordosis in your spine, you might need some imaging tests to help them know exactly what’s going on inside your body, including:

• X-rays.
• MRI.
• CT scan.

Treatment of lordosis: If the lordotic curve gets worse over time, or if it’s not flexible, your provider might suggest a few treatments, including:

• Physical therapy: Your provider might suggest exercises and stretches to strengthen the muscles around your spine. Exercises can’t reduce the curve or cure lordosis, but studies have found they’re the best way to reduce symptoms like pain in your neck or back. Strengthening your hamstrings, hips, abs and glutes (the muscles in your butt) can all improve your posture.

• Bridging: You’ll wear a customized brace to support your spine and stop it from curving any further. Your provider will tell you how often you should wear your brace, and for how long you’ll need to wear it. Most people need to wear their brace for at least 20 hours a day.
• Lordosis surgery: It’s rare to need lordosis surgery. If the lordotic curve is severe enough or it keeps getting worse over time, your provider might recommend a spinal fusion to help straighten your spine and lessen the curve. You might also need bone grafting to help this heal. Your surgeon or provider will tell you which kind of surgery you’ll need and how long it will take you to recover.

Exercise for lordosis: There are a number of lordosis exercises that strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, abdominal muscles, and back muscles. Studies have shown that strengthening these muscles can help in realigning your pelvic tilt and decrease lower back pain. 

Plus, you get all the usual benefits of exercise, such as weight control and improved mental health.

• Plank
• Side plank
• Pelvic tilt with exercise ball
• Superman
• Crunches
• Quadruped arm opposite leg raises
• Dead bug
• Hip bridge

Effective management of Lordosis at Spine Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) in Shyamoli requires teamwork among medical professionals and patients, which in turn improves the patients' quality of life.

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