Kyphosis is when the bones of the cervical and thoracic spine curves into a rounded hunchback shape. The cause of kyphosis depends on the type:
– Postural: poor posture, leaning back in chairs, carrying heavy bags, “text neck”.
– Scheuermann’s: problem in your spines structure.
– Congenital: Issue developed in your spine before birth.
Other causes of kyphosis include:
-Age, as your spine starts to curve more as people get older.
-Spinal injury
Your doctor can usually diagnose it by asking you to do the “Adam’s forward bend test” or with an X-ray of the spine. It’s helpful to get a diagnosis when working with pain management, or if any complications come up, and to monitor the curvature, which may increase with time.
Acupuncture can help provide relief to this condition and help keep pain levels at a lower level so that people with kyphosis can live their life. I tend to do treatment with points on the neck plus points called Huatojiaji, which are points right by the side of the spine from T1-L5. It’s used as part of a pain management strategy, (because kyphosis is painful) but we also recommend yoga or tai qi, plus working with a physical therapist on exercises to help good posture, and gentle chiropractic adjustments.

PC: Medline Plus
