Definition
Postural deformity of the spine means a non-physiological posture and shape of the spine from different causes.
General information
Although the spinal column has to absorb an immense amount of force and thus must be stable, physiological lordosis and kyphosis also have weak points. This is because both forms of the spinal column can become stronger under certain circumstances. For example, lordosis and kyphosis can be more curved than intended.
This increased curvature causes the natural stability of the spine to become unbalanced. With each increase in the curvature, the vertebral bodies increasingly no longer stand parallel to each other, but in an increasingly tilted position. This leads to an imbalance in the distribution of forces and thus to increased pressure on the edges, resulting in further tilting of the vertebral bodies.
Diseases causing postural defects
In addition to the postural deformities caused by unphysiological sitting, there are also some diseases that can also lead to spinal malpositions. Bekhterev’s disease is an autoimmune disease that progresses in relapses and leads to severe back pain, especially at a young age. With advancing age, the spine begins to stiffen increasingly (so-called bamboo spine). Especially older people with ankylosing spondylitis can be recognized by the fact that they sometimes walk forward bent over. A cure of the disease is not possible, one can try to achieve a relief of the symptoms with cortisone and painkillers.
Prevention of postural deformities
It is best not to get postural defects in the first place. For people who often sit frequently, frequent stretching helps here, as it is not entirely possible to prevent them from automatically falling into a mild kyphosis. The best stretching exercise is to try to reach the ceilings with your fingertips while sitting. You should repeat this exercise several times a day. A relief for people who are often sitting is the kneeling chair, where you adopt a kneeling sitting position, which makes your back straighter.