Lordosis of the lumbar and cervical spine. Symptoms, treatment

Malykhin

Sergey Aleksandrovich

11 years of experience

First qualification category

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Lordosis in its original understanding is a physiological, that is, a necessary forward bend of the spine. Normally, it should be in both the lumbar and cervical regions. But often this word is used when they want to talk about pathological changes - too pronounced or, on the contrary, smoothed lordosis. This problem can be acquired, as well as congenital - it occurs in different age groups, and often depends on the person’s lifestyle. We will talk about the pathological condition of the spine.

Reasons for development

The main causes of the disorder are damage to the vertebrae or pathology of the hip joints. Lordosis occurs as a result of:

• Developmental defects.
• Neoplasms.
• Inflammation.
• Spondylolisthesis.
• Torsion muscle spasms.
• Spinal injuries.
• Diseases such as polio, cerebral palsy, rickets.
• Systemic diseases that cause damage to muscles, cartilage, and bones.
• Poor posture during pregnancy (a temporary phenomenon that goes away after the birth of the child).

Pathological lordosis of the spine can occur in children for no apparent reason. This condition is corrected as the child grows older and does not leave any health consequences.

How is cervical lordosis diagnosed?

For diagnosis, not only visual techniques are used, but also the patient’s complaints and medical history are carefully studied, an external examination and instrumental examination are carried out.

An external examination can be carried out by general practitioners, traumatologists or surgeons. The most striking sign of lordosis is a violation of the patient's posture. The specialist carefully assesses the condition, palpates the spine, determines the most painful areas, and measures the bend using special rulers.

The following checks are also prescribed:

• CT scan. Thanks to this method, it is possible to accurately determine the presence of lordosis, the degree of curvature and the cause of the disease (tumor, injury, spasms);
• radiography. Shows the exact dimensions of the curvature of the spinal column;
• Magnetic resonance imaging. It allows not only to determine the degree of curvature, but also to assess the condition of soft tissues and identify tumors and other pathological processes.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of spinal lordosis is muscle pain. Curvature provokes muscle tension and spasms. Cervical lordosis causes discomfort in the neck and shoulder area. You should visit a doctor if the following symptoms appear:

• There are restrictions on mobility in the cervical or lumbar region.
• Numbness and tingling appear.
• Sharp pain, also called lumbago.
• Bladder control problems.
• Muscle weakness.

Deep lordosis of the lumbar spine (hyperlordosis)

Lordosis is a completely natural phenomenon.
Along with the common curvature of the lateral surface of the spine among people – scoliosis. Deep lumbar lordosis of the spine often occurs with a sedentary lifestyle. The disease can also be caused by improper exercise in the gym, during which the abdominal and buttock muscles are not used, and the back extensors are overloaded. When doing barbell squats, deadlifts or lunges, you should always pay attention to the technique. Before exercise, you need to activate the gluteal and abdominal muscles, for which you should use resistance bands.

Hyperlordosis can be caused by stress on the lower back during daily activities. Bending or lifting heavy objects with straight legs places significant stress on the lumbar spine. Hyperlordosis can also affect pregnant women with weakened abdominal muscles during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Types of lordosis

The classification involves different types, taking into account key parameters:

1. Localization:
   Cervical lordosis.
2. Lumbar lordosis.

1. Causes:
   Primary, resulting from pathologies of the spine.
2. Secondary – deformation of the spine as a consequence of the body’s adaptation to balance in atypical conditions.

1. Possibility of full recovery:
   Unfixed – it is possible to straighten the back with a conscious effort.
2. Partially fixed - there are restrictions on changing the bending angle.
3. Fixed – without the possibility of restoring the normal position of the back.

A separate form of the disease is smoothed lordosis. This brings maximum trouble. Smoothness implies the absence of natural curves of the spine, that is, the back is completely straight. When lordosis is strengthened, the curvature of the spine, on the contrary, becomes significantly more pronounced.

Prevention

Preventive measures should include the necessary changes in lifestyle and the development of new habits:

• use of an orthopedic mattress;
• maintaining correct posture while working, walking, resting;
• it is necessary to sit on a chair, leaning on the back of the chair with your entire back, without loading the lumbar region;
• stand on two legs with an even distribution of body weight;
• you should lift the load without jerking, bending your legs at the knee joints and squatting slightly;
• normalization of the diet - it should be balanced;
• Regular swimming and gymnastics classes are required.

A timely visit to a doctor at the first signs of the disease and a course of treatment selected individually for each patient, taking into account the degree of pathological changes, will help restore a full quality of life and avoid the dire consequences of spinal pathology - limitation of motor activity.

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What is the danger of the disease

The spine is the foundation of the entire body. Any of its pathological changes have a detrimental effect on the functioning of individual organs and the body as a whole. Mainly organs in those areas where the curvature is localized are affected. Problems also affect the spine. Inflammation of the vertebrae, their destruction, prolapse, the appearance of hernias, osteochondrosis, deforming arthrosis with subsequent loss of performance are possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a curving deformation of the spinal column in the lateral projection (to the right or left of the vertical axis). Most often it is formed in childhood (in infancy and ages from 3 to 5 years) or in the period from 18 to 25 years.

The severity of scoliosis is determined by the angle of deviation of the spine. To measure it, X-rays are taken in standing and supine positions.

The severity of the symptoms of the disease is directly related to the degree of scoliosis: the greater the curvature, the greater the load on the internal organs and systems.

There are 4 degrees of scoliosis:

First degree scoliosis is expressed as a deviation from the norm of up to 10 degrees. The disease is characterized by a slight stoop and subtle asymmetry in the position of the shoulders and shoulder blades; when bending forward, one shoulder blade protrudes more noticeably than the other. In a number of countries, this stage of scoliosis is considered a variant of the norm, a physiological feature.

Scoliosis of the second degree is characterized by a deviation of the spine from the axis of up to 25 degrees. The patient has obvious asymmetry of the shoulders, shoulder blades, and buttocks. When the body is tilted, the vertebrae stand out unevenly, one shoulder blade protrudes strongly, and there are costal protrusions. The muscle roll is easily palpable, convex on the chest side, concave on the lumbar side. Painful sensations are not expressed. Scoliosis of the second and subsequent degrees requires mandatory treatment; the pathology can progress quickly.

Scoliosis of the third degree is characterized by a curvature of the spine of 26-50 degrees. The patient's posture is impaired, the shoulders and pelvis are distorted, a rib hump is formed, and one leg may appear shorter. Severe deformations of the chest and spinal column lead to compression of internal organs, which is dangerous to health. The condition is accompanied by pain, restrictions in movement, digestive problems, etc.

The fourth degree of scoliosis is the most severe, the scoliotic angle is 50 degrees or more. The patient's spine, chest and pelvis are deformed, a rib hump is formed in front and behind. Due to compression, all internal organs and systems cease to function normally, a person is plagued by pain and numerous pathological manifestations of the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.

1 Massage for scoliosis

2 Massage for scoliosis

3 Massage for scoliosis

Causes of scoliosis

Poor posture in childhood is one of the main provoking factors in the development of scoliosis.

Other common reasons include:

• cerebral palsy;
• congenital vertebral deformities;
• rickets, polio;
• vertebral injuries, including birth injuries;
• injuries to the pelvic bones, legs;
• diseases of muscles, connective tissues;
• osteoporosis;
• spinal tumors;
• obesity, etc.

What are the risks of back scoliosis?

With cervical scoliosis, compression of the arteries of the spine occurs, which adversely affects blood circulation in the brain. The patient suffers from dizziness, headaches, and cognitive impairment.

Thoracic scoliosis is dangerous because it compresses the chest and abdominal cavity, causing damage to internal organs. Their improper functioning is fraught with numerous malfunctions in the body.

Lumbar scoliosis is characterized by deformation and displacement of the pelvic bones, which means inevitable lumbar pain, problems with the kidneys, bladder and intestines, and sexual dysfunction.

Treatment of scoliosis

Success in the treatment of scoliosis directly depends on timely identification of the problem and early contact with a qualified specialist.

The doctor selects a treatment regimen individually for each patient, depending on the degree of the disease.

Correction of first degree scoliosis : as a rule, physical therapy and massage for scoliosis of this degree are the most effective methods.

For the treatment of scoliosis of the second and third degrees, wearing a special corset, electrical myostimulation, exercise therapy, therapeutic massage, and swimming may be recommended. Drug therapy may include the prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, vitamins, etc.

4th degree of scoliosis : if conservative treatment methods are ineffective, surgical straightening of the spine is recommended, followed by long-term rehabilitation and wearing a corset.

Diagnostics

Making a diagnosis requires a number of activities:

• Questioning the patient, identifying symptoms, compiling a medical history.
• Determination of spinal mobility, its curvature, and developmental anomalies.
• Conducting a neurological examination.
• X-ray, which will help to accurately determine the degree of curvature.

There is a self-diagnosis method that can be done at home. It certainly won’t give exact results, but it will help you get your bearings. You need to stand with your back to the wall and try to stick your hand in the lumbar area between the wall and your back. The hand should move with difficulty.

Preventive measures

Carrying out preventive measures will bring a much greater effect in childhood, when a person’s spinal column has not yet formed.

It is also recommended to pay attention to preventive measures for people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or have any other diseases of the muscular or skeletal system.

• it is necessary to control the correct posture, it must always be straight;
• medical experts advise from time to time to straighten up close to the wall, this will allow you to notice pathological changes in the spine in time;
• it is worth giving preference to sports with the least degree of injury, for example, swimming or gymnastics;
• You should not sit in one place for a long time; it is recommended to stretch the lumbar spine every 5 minutes for an hour;
• An excellent preventive measure for many diseases of the skeletal system is morning exercises.

When diagnosing lordosis, you should not refuse therapeutic measures; taking preventive measures is unable to completely heal the patient from the pathological process of the spine.

Complex treatment is required, without which the disease will progress further and lead to serious complications.

With timely diagnosis and compliance with all recommendations of a medical specialist, it is possible to quickly get rid of the clinical manifestations of lordosis.

Treatment

Most cases of pathological lordosis do not require medical treatment. In more severe situations, drug therapy is used. The action of drugs that can be used is aimed at relieving pain and inflammation. Among the main treatment methods:

• Physiotherapy.
• Exercises aimed at strengthening the back muscles, increasing mobility of the lower back and cervical spine.
• Losing weight is one way to improve your posture.
• A corset is an effective measure for children and adolescents.
• Taking vitamins, including vitamin D.

Surgical treatment is used only in the most severe cases in which conservative treatment cannot help the patient.

Prevention of deviations in kyphosis and lordosis

To prevent undesirable consequences of pathological changes in the spine, the following principles must be observed::

• regularly perform physical strengthening, including yoga and fitness;
• go swimming to help the body relax and relieve stress;
• undergo an annual examination by a specialist, in this case an orthopedist.

If you have chronic back pathologies, avoid heavy loads, do yoga and other exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles.

Species differences

There is a certain set of parameters that gives the characteristics of lumbar lordosis. Based on these parameters, the disease is divided into types.

Table. Division into types.

Types of Lordosis