Hump - deformation of the spine (less often - the chest) in the form of pronounced kyphosis. Kyphosis, translated from Greek, means “hunchback”, “bending” and is expressed in an arched bulge back. In this case, the chest is hollow, and the body is shortened.
A bit of anatomy
Normally, any spine has several physiological bends, in humans this is an anatomical feature of the skeleton. Nature has provided such a shape of the spine for the correct distribution of the load on its muscles during upright posture and for depreciation. But if the angle of the natural bend of the thoracic spine exceeds 30 degrees, pathological kyphosis occurs. It accompanies a number of diseases as a symptom. Abnormal kyphosis at first looks like a stoop, later, if ignored, it can turn into a hump.
The hump on the back is a severe physical defect that leads to impaired functioning of the internal organs, as well as many psychological problems.
Today, problematic posture does not surprise anyone; it is considered a normal state of the average person. It is worth noting that by the age of 20, skeleton growth is already ending and if the hump problem has not been solved, then further correction will be ineffective. And by the age of 45, this will be an already formed hump.
The reasons for the development of the violation
The main reasons include:
- Disorders at the gene level or heredity - a predisposition to the hump can be transmitted from parents.
- Cervical osteochondrosis - the deposition of salts and fat cells in the vertebrae, causes pain in the back and legs, crunch in the vertebrae, deformation of the cervicothoracic region.
- Overexertion of the cervical spine - it occurs during sedentary work, when a person spends a lot of time at a table or in a hunched pose: an office worker at a computer and documentation, a doctor during an operation, an operator of machine tools, etc. The problem is that the physiological features of the human back cannot be in a long bent position. In these cases, the load on the vertebrae increases sharply, as a result of which the spine first bends, and then the hump grows.
- Osteoporosis - for various reasons, there may be a deficiency of calcium in the bones. Then deformations appear in the cervical spine that provoke the development of a hump.
- Myogelosis is a compacted state of the muscles of the cervical spine that occurs during high physical exertion during training. If the load on the long and spinous muscles of the back exceeds their reserve capacity, muscle fibers are injured and turn into scars. The way out of the situation is to reduce physical activity.
- Disorders in the vertebrae themselves - atrophy of bone tissue, fractures of the cervical vertebrae, neoplasms on the spine, tearing of the intervertebral discs.
- Inadequate mobility of children - if the child is not sufficiently mobile, he develops weakness of the interspinous muscles of the back and flattening of the vertebrae in front occurs, resulting in the appearance of a growing hump. The defeat is often one-sided.
- Involuntary straining of the pectoral muscles - adolescents and athletes often actively build up their breasts, forgetting about the back muscles.
- Psychological factor - if a child and a teenager have a psychosomatic disorder, psychological imperfection, he often stoops, trying to become less noticeable and submit to more powerful ones.
- Climax - a violation of the concentration of sex hormones leads to the accumulation of adipose tissue and its improper redistribution. In women, it is deposited in the region of the 7th cervical vertebra; this cluster is called the widow's hump. Men also have it, but less noticeable.
- High growth - at the same time, a person should have more trained spinal muscles. This usually does not happen and a hump is formed.
In addition to the above causes of a hump on the back, there are diseases in which the hump appears: kyphoscoliosis, rickets kyphosis, paralytic, congenital, etc. Pathological kyphosis may occur after surgery.
Pathology classification
The disease can be congenital and acquired.
Severity:
- 1 degree (easy) - the angle of curvature of the spine is not more than 40 degrees;
- 2 degree or moderate - curvature up to 40-60 degrees;
- 3, 4 degree (the most severe) - curvature over 60-71.
According to the resistance to deformation, the hump can be fixed and mobile. The first option is not amenable to correction.
With the passage of pathology is divided into progressive and non-progressive.
The shape is angular and arched.
Congenital deformity
Congenital kyphosis is caused by abnormalities in the development of the thoracic vertebrae. They can be half, wedge-shaped, spliced.
Acquired forms of curvature
A disease may be acquired as a result of the following reasons:
- Functional kyphosis (posture, postural, round back) - develops in puberty and up to 30 years, more often in the female. Talks about spinal muscle weakness.
- Juvenile kyphosis in Scheuermann-Mau disease - develops in adolescent boys when the vertebrae are condensed with kyphosis of the spine.
- Calvet's disease is a congenital decrease in the height of one or more vertebrae. Leads to wedge-shaped kyphosis. More often diagnosed in boys of the pre-adolescent period.
- Paralytic hump - occurs against the background of cerebral palsy, polio, muscle dystrophy.
- Rickety hump - due to softening of bone tissue and weakness of the back muscles.
- Post-traumatic spinal deformity - occurs after compression fractures, displacements, unsuccessful operations.
- Degenerative kyphosis is the result of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs - osteochondrosis, spondylarthrosis, spondylosis.
- Senile hump - occurs after 60-70 years, more often in women due to dystrophic and osteoporotic changes in the cartilage of the vertebrae, germinating with fibrosis.
- Tuberculous spondylitis - the appearance of a pointed hump.
- Ankylosing spondylitis - in the later stages of the hump from the neck to the sacrum.
Symptomatic manifestations
There are 3 stages in the development of kyphosis:
- Mild - there is an unsharp stoop, fatigue and minor back pain, especially with exertion.
- Medium - the back hump is obvious, the chin and stomach protrude forward, the chest sinks. The shoulder blades are divorced, the shoulders are retracted. The back remains convex when lying on the stomach.
- Severe degree - the back takes an S-shape, as the compensating reinforcement of lordosis joins. Growth is shortened, limb muscles atrophy, physical activity becomes intolerable. The work of internal organs is disturbed; in children, this degree causes a lag in physical development.
Outwardly invisible signs
In addition to aesthetic unattractiveness, there are symptoms:
- occipital pain with a return to the shoulders, arms, eyes, ears;
- the neck is limitedly mobile;
- pain when trying to turn the neck;
- crunch in the cervical region during movements.
So, the hump on the back, what to do? Seek medical attention immediately to get rid of it completely. If 1 degree can go unnoticed, it is impossible to miss the middle degree, and stage 3 is no longer being treated.
Diagnostic measures
If the hump on the back grows, the doctor will tell you what to do. It is worth recalling the effectiveness of treatment in early diagnosis. For diagnosis: x-ray of the spine, MRI or CT.
Consequences of the hump
If the pathology is ignored, there is a risk of the following complications:
- Compression of the nerve roots, causing paresis, paralysis and disruption of the pelvic organs.
- Accelerated aging of the spine with degeneration of its tissues, and, therefore, with osteochondrosis, hernias, radiculitis.
- The displacement of the center of gravity first causes clubfoot, then flat feet, and problems with large joints of the legs.
- Due to the hollow of the chest, its mobility is limited and respiratory failure, hypoxia, and heart problems develop.
- Blood flow disorders.
- The omission of the diaphragm increases intra-abdominal pressure, there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
- The widow's hump provokes cerebrovascular accident due to vascular constriction, severe cephalgia and hypertension. There is a narrowing of the spinal canal, this leads to paralysis of the legs, disruption of the internal organs.
Now the question is, is it possible to get rid of the hump on the back? If skeleton growth is complete, i.e. the patient is more than 20 years old, an attempt to get rid is unlikely to be very effective. In addition, the cause is the cause of the formation of kyphosis. Therefore, only a vertebrologist can answer the question and predict the result.
Treatment methods
When choosing a treatment, the following are taken into account: age, cause and well-being of the patient.
Conservative treatment
Taking medication can only slow the progression of the hump, but the reason remains. Prescribed drugs for the relief of inflammation, analgesics. Conservative treatment is combined with active sports, massage, physiotherapy, swimming in the pool.
By the way, the question of how to remove the hump on the back with exercises can be referred to as doing exercises in water (aqua aerobics). In this case, the load on the spine is minimal, and the maximum efficiency. There are practically no contraindications for performing exercises in water . If conservative treatment is ineffective, a surgical method of solving problems is used.
The patient's diet should also change - less fat and simple sugars.
Physiotherapy is also actively used:
- heat therapy;
- UVT;
- darsonvalization;
- ultrasound;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetotherapy;
- paraffin-ozokerite-water-and mud therapy.
Wearing special aortes (corsets) to maintain the spine, especially in childhood and after surgery.
How to remove the hump on the back without surgery? Effective therapeutic effect is exerted by exercise therapy, manual therapy, massage, swimming. In the latter case, the program can be selected individually, swimming perfectly develops the muscles of the back and improves breathing.
Shock Wave Treatment (UHT)
Considering the methods that answer the question of how to straighten the hump on the back, it is worth noting that this treatment is most effective today. Exposure with the help of high-frequency ultrasonic waves improves blood circulation, breaks down body fat, and eliminates pain. The course of therapy is 5-7 sessions with weekly breaks. In 80% of cases, UVT avoids surgery.
Darsonval
How to remove the hump on the back of darsonval? This use of high-frequency current with a high shock rate relieves muscle spasm, pain and inflammation. A very effective treatment method.
Physiotherapy
Is it possible to correct the hump on the back with physical education? Exercise can create adequate loads on the muscles of the back, develop them and strengthen. Such natural muscle corsets perform the supporting function of the spine in the best way.
Hump exercises on the back include a variety of actions:
- deflections;
- bending and turning the head;
- stick squats
- leaning forward;
- lunges forward;
- twisting;
- exercises for the limbs.
Under the supervision of an instructor in exercise therapy, you can correctly choose a training program and strengthen muscles well. To prove to everyone and answer the question of how to get rid of the hump on the back with exercises, you can do it at regular intervals - 12-15 minutes a day, with repetitions of no more than 15-20 times. Complexes are selected by doctors of exercise therapy. The choice of exercises depends on many factors.
Massage and manual therapy
Manual therapy also helps to get rid of a hump on the back without drugs. But only an experienced manual should deal with the process, otherwise, instead of benefit, there will only be harm.
The classic complex includes 3 stages:
- Introductory stage - lasts 3 minutes, heats muscles and tissues. It relaxes the body and prepares for massage.
- The main part is 20 minutes on average. The masseur performs circular and spiral grindings, vibrating, tapping, pressure with knuckles, etc. receptions.
- Final - soothing strokes of the massaged area. Also lasts 3 minutes.
Surgical intervention
How to get rid of a hump on the back, if there is no effectiveness from the traditional treatment? Surgical operation will correct the angles of bending of the spine, stop the deformation process, eliminate the compression of the nerve trunk. During surgery, the spine is fixed in the correct position by special metal structures. The method is applicable in adults. Also, the surgical method is used for congenital kyphosis.
During the rehabilitation period, bed rest, wearing a corset is mandatory, and, if necessary, a course of medication.
How to get rid of a hump on the back of a woman during menopause? In this case, many mature ladies resort to liposuction of the cervical hump. Do not forget that such a procedure should be supplemented in the future with moderate physical activity in order to avoid a repeat of the pathology.
Disease Prevention Methods
How to get rid of a hump on your back? Compliance with simple rules will help in this:
- Always maintain proper posture so that your neck is level.
- To live an active lifestyle.
- Consult a doctor at an early stage if the baby has suspicions of kyphosis.
- More often walk in the fresh air and perform sports exercises.
- Stay less at the computer.
- Competent to choose furniture by height.
- Use a hard mattress and a flat pillow for sleeping.
- Exercise regularly in the morning
- Eat a balanced diet with limited animal fats.
All of the above rules are most effective in the early stages. Therefore, timely treatment to a doctor is important.