The human body is especially narrow in that by training and stretching muscles, it can do unthinkable things. Proper nutrition helps to strengthen bone tissue and the formation of proper physiological curves of the spine.
What are the physiological curves of the spine?
To walk on two legs, the skeleton must have a center of gravity shifted forward. For this, the column of the spine shifts with age in the direction that is most convenient.
But displacement is not always correct and painless. If there is any discomfort, pain or heaviness, poor mobility - there is a pathological deviation from the norm. Such changes can occur already in the womb, and subsequently poor nutrition, lack of physical load on the muscles lead to curvature of the vertebrae in the position that is most convenient for the owner.
The spine has four physiological bends - two lordoses and two kyphoses. The bends formed in the correct natural way protrude slightly in the neck, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions. All bends of more than one centimeter in size can be considered pathological.
How do bends form?
The beginning of the formation of physiological bends of the spine occurs during development in the mother’s stomach and continues throughout life.
The first physiological bend of the spine is called kyphosis, it is genetically laid and is a bend of the sacral vertebrae. The first change acquired is the cervical bend. The physiological bending of the spine anteriorly is called lordosis. It forms in the first six to eight weeks from birth.
The more the baby adapts to life (moves, turns over, lies on his stomach, learns to walk), the faster the other two bends appear. The formation of physiological bends of the spine occurs gradually.
What is kyphosis?
The first natural bend of the body, obtained even in the womb - is called kyphosis. He is in the sacral section. With age and the development of various body functions, a second physiological bending of the spine arises with a bulge upward.
Kyphosis is most often called a hump, a round back. Anyone can diagnose this anomaly, because a fairly strong roundness of the back is visible to the naked eye.
The cause of kyphosis in the first place can be considered a genetic predisposition. The presence of such a “feature” of development in several generations of members of the same family. This type of kyphosis is not treated.
In addition, often the causes of various deviations from the norm in development are poor nutrition, a lack of calcium, minerals and vitamin D3. Rickets arising against the background of vitamin deficiency weakens not only immunity, but also the muscle apparatus, which leads to a decrease in muscle tone, softening of the intervertebral discs.
An important role in the curvature of the spine is played by the load that the vertebrae and intervertebral discs receive daily.
Received spinal injuries, vertebral fractures and their displacement can cause spinal deformity. It can be not only arched, but also angular. From an injury, the vertebra is bent in front. Most often, the vertex protrudes posteriorly in the form of an angle.
What is lordosis?
The physiological bending of the spine anteriorly is called lordosis. It is the second physiological bend that forms in the infant after birth.
Lordosis is divided into:
- Physiological (norm of development).
- Pathological (a deviation associated with a hip joint injury received during childbirth, an inflammatory disease, or fusion of the cartilage of the joint).
Received joint injuries, spinal diseases that interfere with the normal functioning of the skeleton, cause the spine to bend to a more convenient position. Being overweight is the second cause of lordosis. A large amount of fat deposits in the abdomen gives a strong load, causing the lower back to bend to a more comfortable position.
Formation
As previously mentioned, physiological bends of the spine are formed in the womb. After birth, the baby gradually explores the world, receiving new information and using the instincts laid down by nature. New skills acquired by the child help to form not only reflexes, but also posture.
The first weeks the baby spends on his back, shaking hands, pulls up bent legs. In this he is helped by kyphosis of the sacral section, which is formed in the fetus even in the bud. Its presence helps adults to carefully care for the baby, supporting under the ass with motion sickness.
The second is cervical lordosis at the age of four to six weeks. This is facilitated by rolling the child on his tummy and trying to raise his head. Such an exercise strengthens the muscles of the neck, teaches the intervertebral discs to be mobile and elastic.
Thoracic kyphosis appears at the age of six to seven months, when the baby learns to sit. Neurologists and pediatricians are not in vain warning parents about the consequences of early planting babies in "pillows". A weak muscle frame does not cope well with such loads. Such children often develop pathological distortions associated with such actions. The child will be able to sit on his own when his body is sufficiently "trained" for such actions.
The last lumbar lordosis occurs. His formation is connected with the ability to stand and walk. It is formed at the age of 1-2 years.
Physiological bends of the spine of children are formed within two to three years.
How to identify pathological changes?
Changes in the skeleton begin in childhood. The first ones who can see and prevent abnormalities are parents and loved ones. The doubts that have arisen should push mom and dad to show the baby to a specialist.
Or you can do a little test at home. It is enough to ask the child to lean against the wall, so that the back of the head, shoulder blades, shoulders and buttocks touch a flat surface. If there are no pathologies, the palm cannot move freely between the wall and the lower back. Free movement already indicates that the child has lordosis of the spine.
The orthopedic surgeon can make a full diagnosis after an X-ray and a full examination. The physiological bends of the spine and the developed abnormalities are clearly visible in the pictures.
Scoliosis
In the twentieth century, a new pathology became a problem - scoliosis. This disease has three types:
- Post-traumatic.
- Acquired.
- Congenital
Although most people perceive any curvature as a scoliotic disease. That it occurs only in children from 6 and in adolescents up to 16 years.
With scoliosis, the spine bends to the side. With age, the vertebrae become deformed and bend even more. Each curvature has its own name, depending on the number of arcs:
C is one, S is two, Z is three. Be sure to note the angle of bends and changes with age. Abroad, they mark the age when scoliosis manifested.
The causes of scoliosis are still not clear. But, it is assumed that the pathological formation of the spine is affected by:
- Carrying heavy bags on one shoulder.
- Wrong posture at a desk or desk.
- Diseases of the connective and muscle tissue.
- Sharp bone growth.
- Congenital deformity.
Pathology and pregnancy
Physiological bending of the spine, with pathological changes, can be affected during pregnancy. This is due to the increase in weight of a woman, which affects not only the joints of the legs, but also on the lumbar.
An increase in load can lead to even greater curvature of lumbar lordosis.
But the presence of scoliosis can adversely affect expectant mothers under the age of 30 years. During this period, bone growth still occurs, which affects the increase in the axis angle.
Prevention and treatment
Physiological bending of the spine is difficult to treat. Influence on further development is possible only in the initial stages.
For the prevention of kyphosis and scoliosis, specialized bandages are used that fix the upper body in the correct position. This adaptation prevents the back deflection in the thoracic region and the stoop of the shoulders.
Therapeutic gymnastics according to the method of Katarina Schrot helps to maintain intercostal muscles in good shape. This method is based on physical and breathing exercises.
Treatment of pathologies does not guarantee 100% recovery. It all depends on the "neglect" of the patient. For patients with scoliosis with several axes, a special corset is used that can at least slightly reduce the bending angle.
In the most difficult cases, when physical education and a corset are useless, resort to surgical intervention. Patients are “leveled” by installing metal rods that immobilize the part of the spine in which they were installed.
Such a barbaric method can guarantee a small but reduced bend. And also stop the deformation of the vertebrae. The only nuance is age: such operations are optimal for adolescents 13-15 years old.