POSTURAL DEFORMITIES
KYPHOSIS
KYPHOSIS
● Kyphosis (Greek - kyphos, a hump),
also called round back or Kelso's
hunchback, is a condition of over-
curvature of the thoracic
vertebrae (upper back). It can be either
the result of degenerative diseases
(such as arthritis), developmental
problems, osteoporosis with
compression fractures of the vertebrae,
and/or trauma. Real word usage of this
word may be pronounced "Kyphotic" as
CAUSES
● Habitual Bad Posture
● Underdevelopment/ Weakness of
Longitudinal Back Muscle
● Rickets
● Mental/Physical Fatigue
● Injury/Disease of Spine
● Arthritis
SYMPTOMS
● Appearance of poor posture with a hump
appearance of the back or "hunchback," back
pain, muscle fatigue, and stiffness in the back.
● In rare cases, this can lead to compression of the
spinal cord with neurologic symptoms including
weakness, loss of sensation, or loss of
bowel and bladder control.
● Thoracic kyphosis can also limit the amount of
space in the chest and cause cardiac and
pulmonary problems leading to chest
pain and shortness of breath.
REMEDIAL EXERCISE
● Mobilizing exercises are given for
whole spine.
● Strengthening exercises are given for
abdominal muscles and back extensors.
● There may be associated tightening in
hamstring muscles. Hence stretching
of hamstring is done.
SCOLIOSIS
SCOLIOSIS
Scoliosis is an abnormal curving of
the spine. Your spine is your
backbone. It runs straight down
your back. Everyone’s spine
naturally curves a tiny bit. But
people with scoliosis have a spine
that curves too much. The spine
might look like the letter “C” or “S.”
Causes
In most cases (85%), the cause of scoliosis is unknown
(what doctors call idiopathic). The other 15% of cases fall
into two groups:
● Nonstructural (functional): This type of scoliosis is a
temporary condition when the spine is otherwise normal.
The curvature occurs as the result of another problem.
Examples include one leg being shorter than another from
muscle spasms or from appendicitis.
● Structural: In this type of scoliosis, the spine is not normal.
The curvature is caused by another disease process such
as a birth defect, muscular dystrophy,
metabolic diseases, connective tissue disorders,
or Marfan's syndrome.
SYMPTOMS
● One shoulder is higher than the other
● One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other
● One side of the rib cage appears higher than the
other
● One hip appears higher or more prominent than
the other
● The waist appears uneven
● The body tilts to one side
● One leg may appear shorter than the other
REMEDIAL EXERCISES
● Bracing:
Braces will help control any worsening of a
spine curvature, but do little to correct an
existing deformity. Bracing is most effective
for scoliosis treatment when used in children
that are rapidly growing and have worsening
scoliosis curves.
Surgery:
Surgery is often the best options for
more severe curves. Depending on the
site of the curve and the degree of
curvature, the surgeon will fuse
vertebrae in a more normal anatomic
position.
LORDOSIS
LORDOSIS
Lordosis is a medical term used to
describe an inward curvature of a
portion of the lumbar and
cervical vertebral column.
Excessive or hyper lordosis is
commonly referred to
as swayback or saddle back.
CAUSES
● Imbalances in muscle strength and
length are also a cause, such as
weak hamstrings, or tight hip
flexors(psoas).
● Tight low back muscles.
● Excessive visceral fat.
SYMPTOMS
● The major clinical feature of lordosis is a
prominence of the buttocks.
● Symptoms will vary depending if lordosis
occurs with other defects, such as muscular
dystrophy, developmental dysplasia of the hip,
or neuromuscular disorders.
TREATMENT
● Physical Therapy- Exercises may be used to
strengthen muscles and increase range of motion.
You may also be taught how to maintain a correct
posture.
● Medications- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) may be given for discomfort or to
decrease swelling.
● Back Brace- Braces are sometimes used with
children. The brace can make sure the curve
doesn't worsen as they grow.
● Surgery- Surgery is reserved for severe
cases. In this case the spine is straightened
by using a metal rod, hooks, or screws in the
back bones. Surgeons also use a bone graft
to promote new growth and stability.
BOW- LEG
Bowlegs is a condition in which the knees stay
wide apart when a person stands with the feet
and ankles together.
CAUSES
Bowlegs may be caused by illnesses such as:
● Blount's disease
● Bone dysplasia (abnormal development)
● Fractures that do not heal correctly
● Lead or fluoride poisoning
● Rickets, which is caused by a vitamin D
deficiency.
SYMPTOMS
● Knees do not touch when standing with feet
together (ankles touching)
● Bowing of legs is same on both side of the
body (symmetrical)
● Bowed legs continue beyond age 3
TREATMENT
● If the condition is severe or the child also has
another disease, special shoes, braces, or
casts can be tried. It is unclear how well these
work.
● At times, surgery is performed to correct the
deformity in an adolescent with severe
bowlegs.
KNOCK -KNEE
A deformity of the legs in which the knees are
abnormally close together and the ankles are
spread widely apart.
CAUSES
● Rickets- Rickets are the result of a vitamin D
deficiency. Vitamin D helps regulate the
calcium and phosphate in the blood.
● Injury- An injury to the knee affecting the
anterior cruciate ligament or ACL causes
instability to the knee in children or young
adults.
SYMPTOMS
● A large difference between the angle of one
leg and the other when standing straight,
● An excessive inward or outward knee angle,
pain linked to the angle of their knee, and
● Difficulty walking or an awkward way of
walking.
TREATMENT
Treatment options for knock knee include:
● A change of diet, if knock knee is caused by a
condition such as rickets or scurvy,
● Wearing special heel supports inside shoes to
correct the line of the legs,
● Wearing braces or splints to correct the line of the
legs, and
surgery, although this is only considered in severe
cases.
FLAT FOOT
A medical condition in which the arch of the
foot collapses, with the entire sole of the foot
coming into complete or near-complete
contact with the ground.
CAUSES
● Family history - experts say fallen arches can
run in families.
● Weak arch - the arch of the foot may be there
when no weight is placed on it, for example,
when the person is sitting. But as soon as they
stand up the foot flattens (falls) onto the ground.
● Injury
● Arthritis
● Nervous system or muscle diseases
SYMPTOMS
● Foot pain, particularly in the heel or arch area
● Difficulty standing on tiptoe
● Swelling along the inside of the ankle
TREATMENT
● Pain in the foot that is caused by flat feet may be
alleviated if the patient wears supportive well-
fitted shoes.
● Fitted insoles or orthotics (custom-designed arch
supports) may relieve pressure from the arch
and reduce pain if the patient's feet roll or over-
pronate.
● Wearing an ankle brace may help patients with
posterior tibial tendinitis, until the inflammation
comes down.
● Bodyweight management - if the patient is
obese the doctor may advise him/her to lose
weight. A significant number of obese patients
with flat feet who successfully lose weight
experience considerable improvement of
symptoms.