Diagnostics
The hunchback is often recognized by the doctor as soon as he looks at the patient. To objectify the diagnosis, special x-rays of the spine are taken to determine the exact angle of curvature (Cobb angle). Computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging are supplementary examinations, some of which can provide information about the cause.
Therapy
Physiotherapy, corsets or operations are used depending on the shape and form of the hunchback. Daily movement training with targeted muscle exercises and extensive stretching can achieve astonishing results for a large number of patients. The hunchback can be counteracted in this way within a short time.
Stretching of the large and small chest muscles should not be neglected during training. Patients should, however, pay attention to the different directions of these two muscles. In addition, the large back muscle (M. latissimus dorsi) should be strengthened and stretched in short daily training sessions.
A corset (technical term: orthosis) is a medical aid that can serve to stabilize, relieve, immobilize, guide and/or correct the spine. With the help of a corset, the patient’s spine with a hunched back is straightened and the individual vertebrae are relieved in this way. However, in order to ensure the success of treatment of a hunched back by wearing a corset, it is important to ensure that the daily wearing time prescribed by the specialist is strictly adhered to and that the fit of the medical aid is checked at regular intervals.
Rubbing, chafing and/or pressure points on the corset not only impair the patient’s freedom of movement but can also have a negative effect on the treatment result. Especially for children with hunched backs, therapy with corsets during the growth phase can achieve convincing results. The reason for this is the fact that the growth of the spine can be steered to a desired level by wearing a corset.
The hunched back therefore simply grows out in the course of length growth.
- Physiotherapy: If the hunchback is slightly pronounced and only functional, specialized physiotherapy can be applied.The spine is to be straightened by training the back and chest muscles. Regular targeted back training can prevent the development of a hunchback due to poor posture.
Daily movement training with targeted muscle exercises and extensive stretching can achieve astonishing results for a large number of patients. In this way, the hunchback can be counteracted within a short time. Stretching of the large and small chest muscles should not be neglected during training.
Patients should, however, pay attention to the different directions of these two muscles. In addition, the large back muscle (M. latissimus dorsi) should be strengthened and stretched in short daily training sessions.
- Corset (orthosis): In case of more pronounced pronouncements it may be necessary to wear a corset. This is mainly used in childhood and is intended to compensate for the hunched back by directing the growth of the spine through the corset.
A corset (technical term: orthosis) is a medical aid which can serve to stabilize, relieve, immobilize, guide and/or correct the spine. With the help of a corset, the patient’s spine with a hunched back is straightened and the individual vertebrae are relieved in this way. However, in order to ensure the success of treatment of a hunched back by wearing a corset, it is important to ensure that the daily wearing time prescribed by the specialist is strictly adhered to and that the fit of the medical aid is checked at regular intervals.
Rubbing, chafing and/or pressure points on the corset not only impair the patient’s freedom of movement but can also have a negative effect on the treatment result. Especially for children with hunched backs, therapy with corsets during the growth phase can achieve convincing results. The reason for this is the fact that the growth of the spine can be steered to a desired level by wearing a corset.
The hunched back therefore simply grows out in the course of length growth.
- Surgery: In particularly severe cases, a surgical measure can improve the hunchback. Kyphoplasty (straightening of the vertebrae with a balloon and insertion of bone cement) and spondylodesis (stiffening of vertebral bodies with screws) are methods that are mainly used when vertebral fractures or osteoporosis form the basis of the hunchback. Kyphoplasty as surgery is particularly suitable for patients who have developed a hunchback due to vertebral fractures.
This surgical method is considered a minimally invasive procedure and is primarily used to repair the damaged vertebra. Spondylodesis (synonym: spinal fusion), on the other hand, is a surgical procedure in which parts of the spine are stiffened with the help of implants. With the help of this method, a hunchback can be effectively corrected and the patient’s symptoms alleviated.
In most cases, a hunchback can be treated by so-called conservative (non-surgical) procedures. However, for patients who suffer from a progressive hunchback with a significant deformity of the spine, surgery can be a useful correction method. However, surgery to correct the hunchback has some risks.
Particularly when a spondylodesis is performed, inflammatory processes can occur in the soft tissue area. In addition, breathing may be severely impaired. As with any surgery, bleeding and injury to nerve fibers can occur during and after the procedure. In addition, when correcting the hunchback, it should be noted that in approximately 5% of patients, despite optimal surgical conditions, further surgical measures must be performed within five years.
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