Postural damage that has occurred is usually irreversible. Various measures can often help prevent postural damage.
What are postural deformities?
Postural deformities are bony changes in a person’s body that can develop from long-term poor posture. The spine is particularly commonly affected by postural damage. This damage to the spine is often accompanied by back pain. Corresponding postural defects can manifest themselves in the form of a hollow back, scoliosis or a hunchback:
In the case of a hollow back, the spine shows an increased inward curvature at the lower back. Scoliosis is the term used in medicine when the spine shows a lateral curvature. Scoliosis can be recognized, for example, by a laterally displaced course of the vertebrae. If a hunchback is present as a form of postural deformity, the affected person shows a strong spinal curvature in the chest area. Such a hunchback leads to a forward inclination of the shoulders and head. If hollow back and hunchback occur in combination, this is also called hollow round back.
Causes
Postural deformities can be caused by a variety of factors. Among the most common causes of postural deformities are long-term poor posture, which can be caused, for example, by frequent and incorrect sitting or by heavy physical work. Frequently carrying heavy bags/backpacks, being overweight and wearing unsuitable shoes or mattresses can also cause postural deformities in the long term. Postural defects are also promoted by a lack of physical exercise and weak back or abdominal muscles; as a result, the muscles cannot adequately support the spine. Various diseases, injuries or congenital bone malformations can also lead to postural defects – a pelvic obliquity due to different leg lengths, for example, causes the spine to make a compensating curve. Last but not least, long-term emotional stress can also express itself in poor posture and resulting postural deformities.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
The symptoms of postural deformities usually do not become apparent until they have led to noticeable discomfort. These include such things as back pain, knee pain and muscle tension. However, pain in other areas, such as the shoulders or hips, also occurs. This is mostly due to poor posture that has existed for a long time. Postural deformities usually develop without symptoms at the beginning and manifest themselves only after years with them. Often, those affected themselves do not notice that they have been putting an unfavorable strain on their bodies for a long time. If the spine is incorrectly loaded over a long period of time, a diagnosable spinal curvature occurs. If it curves on one side, it is referred to as scoliosis. This can also be congenital and lead to the symptoms mentioned. In old age, scoliosis can also affect the lungs and the heart, because the curvature also affects the chest. The signs of wear and tear on the spine that occur as a result of one-sided strain also lead to chronic muscle tension and corresponding pain. Signs that can sometimes be detected in childhood and adolescence include a noticeable rotation of the hip bones and a C-shape of the spine in the lateral position. Again, the signs are more likely to be detected during medical checkups than by the affected individuals themselves.
Diagnosis and progression
Often, postural deformities are not diagnosed until the first pain occurs. For example, dull or pulling back pain that occasionally radiates to the legs may indicate postural damage to the spine. Various postural defects can already be diagnosed by the orthopedist during an initial physical examination; for this purpose, a physician looks at and/or palpates the affected area of the body. If postural defects are difficult to recognize externally or if they need to be examined in detail, X-rays, for example, can contribute to a diagnosis; here, bony structures are depicted. Postural defects are usually irreversible; once they have occurred, they do not regress and cannot be remedied by medical measures. However, symptoms and further progression of postural defects can be positively influenced by therapy.
Complications
In most cases, postural defects cannot be treated or removed. They are irreversible, and the affected person must live with these damages for the rest of his or her life. In most cases, however, the damage can be alleviated with the help of therapies. The postural damage continues to cause pain. This occurs primarily in the back and neck of the patient. It is not uncommon for the pain to spread to other regions of the body. If the pain occurs in the form of pain at rest, it can also cause discomfort at night and thus lead to sleep problems. As a result of the postural deformities, many patients also suffer from depression and a reduced ability to cope with stress. It is not uncommon for patients to adopt a gentle posture, but this has an equally negative effect on their health. The quality of life decreases greatly due to these damages. There is no causal treatment for postural damage. However, the affected person must pay attention to a healthy posture and usually participate in various therapies. This can alleviate pain and movement restrictions. Surgical interventions are usually not necessary. The postural defects themselves do not lead to a reduced life expectancy.
When should you see a doctor?
Postural deformities should always be evaluated by a physician. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent or completely reduce further complications and discomfort in adulthood. The earlier postural defects are discovered, the higher the likelihood of a positive disease outcome. As a rule, a doctor should be consulted if the person affected or outside persons notice an unusual posture or possibly experience pain. The affected person adopts a protective posture or incorrect posture that prevails over a longer period of time. An unusual shape of the spine can also indicate postural defects and should also be examined. In many cases, postural deformities are accompanied by severe pain. Diagnosis of this condition can be made by an orthopedist, general practitioner or pediatrician. For further treatment, however, patients are dependent on various exercises or therapies. Surgical interventions may also be necessary. In some cases, postural deformities can also lead to psychological discomfort, so a psychologist should be consulted. Often, most postural deformities can be well treated and reduced.
Treatment and therapy
A treatment of postural deformities depends, among other things, on the existing causes and is individually tailored to the patient. If postural deformities are based on a disease, for example, treatment of the corresponding underlying disease is one of the important therapy steps. Diseases that can cause postural deformities include growth disorders such as Scheuermann’s disease or autoimmune diseases such as Bekhterev’s disease (which can lead to increasing ossification of the spine). Early and consistent treatment of the underlying diseases can help to mitigate the progression of postural deformities. Depending on the cause of postural deformities, general medical measures may include physiotherapy and muscle training. Stretching exercises can help loosen tense areas of the body that contribute to postural deformities. Those affected are also usually advised to avoid any previous incorrect postures as far as possible in everyday life (whether by sitting or carrying correctly and/or by acquiring suitable furniture). In the case of pronounced pain in connection with postural deformities, pain-relieving medication is occasionally prescribed. Comparatively rarely, severe postural damage can be countered by measures such as supportive corsets. Finally, in some cases, surgical interventions may be medically necessary/sensible.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis of postural deformities is unfavorable. If postural defects have already developed from poor posture, they are considered irreversible. The same applies to people who have acquired postural defects due to a genetic disposition during the growth process. Reversal of the changes in the skeletal system through training or other therapies is not to be expected. The damage is permanent and persists until the end of life. The patient may undergo surgical intervention in some cases.The aim is to improve the current situation and alleviate the symptoms. However, despite all efforts, complete freedom from symptoms can only be expected very rarely if at all. In a treatment, the aim is to minimize the existing complaints as well as to prevent the development of further symptoms. In the case of posture disorders, the patient can usually achieve an improvement in his or her health only to a small extent by using alternative healing methods or naturopathic treatments. The techniques of naturopathy also primarily aim to alleviate existing symptoms. Without seeking treatment, muscle discomfort, malaise and pain continue to increase throughout life. Therefore, despite the poor chance of recovery from postural deformity, medical treatment with a comprehensive exercise and care plan is important.
Prevention
Postural damage can be prevented primarily by avoiding poor posture at an early age; for example, if you sit frequently, changing positions regularly is recommended. Factors such as lifting heavy loads from the legs (not the back), regular exercise, strengthening muscles, and avoiding/controlling excess weight also contribute to avoiding postural damage.
Aftercare
Whether there are measures of aftercare for postural damage cannot be predicted in general. The further measures depend thereby very strongly on the exact kind and also on the expression of these damages, so that here no general prediction can be made over these possibilities. First and foremost, however, the postural damage must be properly treated by a doctor so that it does not lead to further complications and also not to a further worsening of the complaints. The earlier the damage is detected, the better the further course of treatment. However, since not all postural defects can be treated, the affected person does not always have access to aftercare measures. First and foremost, the behavior that led to the damage must be corrected. Certain postures of the body must not be adopted again in order to alleviate the symptoms. Furthermore, the measures of a physiotherapy or a physiotherapy are often necessary to alleviate these complaints. Many of the exercises from such a therapy can be carried out thereby also in the own home, whereby the healing can be accelerated. Pain is usually relieved with the help of painkillers. It should be noted that painkillers should not be taken over a long period of time.
What you can do yourself
Affected people can do a few things in everyday life to relieve discomfort from postural deformities independently and with little effort. Needed for this a good self-reflection and attention of the own posture. As soon as the upper body is strongly bent when sitting, an upright sitting position can be adopted. The shoulders should be straight and the head held in a vertical position. It is helpful to consciously change and vary the posture at regular intervals. Likewise, the distances between the table and the seat should be adjusted according to optimal needs. Regular muscle training is also helpful to stabilize and adequately support the skeletal system. Balanced movement of all body parts and joints can prevent or correct postural deformities. Wearing healthy footwear and avoiding the use of shoes with high heels also prevents damage. If muscles are tight, targeted workouts help to loosen them up and reduce postural damage. Regular exercise that targets all muscles equally is highly recommended. This includes swimming in particular. When moving around, care should be taken to keep the body straight and upright whenever possible. Curvatures or one-sided physical exertion should be avoided. Avoiding overweight or obesity is also helpful. In the case of chronic complaints, physiotherapy and physical therapy can help to improve the condition.
