Did Somebody Say Humpback?
It's true -humps are making a comeback; not in the sense of fashion, but in the sense of prevalence. We don't like them. Cave men didn't either. Whales and camels should be the only prideful exceptions.
I often get asked by patients about the "hump" in their back. Their dialogue usually go something like this...
"My mom had a hump. Is it genetic?!"
"Can you make this hump go away, Doc?"
or, "I don't want the hump, Doc! Push it down!! Cut it off!!"
and, "I will do whatever it takes to keep from getting that hump, Doc!"
Usually poor posture is the common theme among those that visually have a rounded back, or hyperkyphosis of the thoracic spine (in the area of your lungs) or upper half of your lumbar spine. These two areas extend from the middle of your shoulder blades through your lower back behind your abdomen. There are different degrees or severities of humpback:
Forward Head Posture comes before the severe Dowager's Hump; both cause strain on your muscles, organs and NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Forward Head Posture:
Sitting, computers, texting, gaming, reading, looking down with repetition, etc. are all physical stressors that can lead to an upper-cross postural strain and possible "humps." This is also often seen in young adolescent girls that become conscious of body changes in development. Postural issues of this nature are extremely common, BUT they can be prevented and corrected. The head comes forward, the shoulders round, the front chest and shoulders muscles get too tight, the upper trap/shoulder gets too tight; the middle to lower scapula muscles, lat muscles, etc. get too weak/underutilized and it becomes a cyclic problem. The sooner we catch it, the sooner we correct it. Why wait until you have a humpback to get it fixed? If you or your children are spending much time on a computer, at a desk or in a chair...
Pay Attention! Unless you and your children are combating poor posture proactively with exercise and regular adjustments, compromise to the body is happening regardless you if have a clear and present danger -in the form of a hump or pain.
What is this doing to the nervous system? Decreasing its function! Poor upper back and neck posture is leading to sympathetic dominance, or a chronic "flight or fight" stress response (which means things like high blood pressure, attention issues, heart rate issues, breathing issues, hormone issues, among many other symptoms/diseases that can arise when homeostasis/natural order of the body and nervous system are affected). The sympathetic system becomes hyper (over) active, while the parasympathetic system becomes hypo (under) active. Homeostasis of the body is compromised.
Do these images look familiar:
What Causes Dowager's Hump?
Dowager's hump is a health condition characterized by a severe rounding of the upper back. Dowager's Hump is more common in people who, along with poor postural habits, have advanced osteoporosis and is usually caused by what is known as a wedge fracture.
Wedge fractures happen when the sides of the vertebrae that face the front of your body become weak and collapse causing the vertebrae to tilt forward. This results in the back curving and the head tilting forward even further. In some cases, the curvature of the back becomes so severe the head is forced to look downward.
Symptoms of Dowager's Hump
Pain is not always the first sign of Dowager's Hump. The initial symptoms can be a loss of height or a slight rounding of the back.
As a Dowager's Hump becomes more severe, the following symptoms may start to develop:
*Neck Pain
*Back Pain
*Rib Pain
*Difficulty Breathing
*Loss of Appetite
Preventing Dowager's Hump
As with most health conditions, preventing a Dowager's Hump from developing is the most effective treatment of all. At Mason Chiropractic Health & Wellness, our focus is on the entire health of an individual; specifically, in the health of the human spine and nervous system.
Our regular chiropractic care keeps your spine properly aligned and healthy which helps prevent a variety of health conditions, including Forward Head Posture, Dowager's Hump, and the resulting neuromuscular compromises.
We also provide our patients with personalized guidance on nutrition and exercise that are both essential to restoring and maintaining healthy bones and muscle. Sunshine, Vitamin D and calcium all need to be included to prevent or slow poor bone quality (osteopenia and osteoporosis).
Will Chiropractic Care Cure a Dowager's Hump?
The answer to this question is different for each patient. It all depends on the severity of the Dowager's Hump and how long it has been developing.
If caught in time, our chiropractic care has been very effective in reversing the effects of a Dowager's Hump. If you have lived with a Dowager's Hump for 30-40 years, we can help slow or stop the advancement of the condition, but visual changes will be minimal.
Schedule an Appointment
At Mason Chiropractic Health & Wellness, we've been helping patients of all ages prevent poor posture, humps and even Dowager's Hump (I have a patient in his 80's with a Dowager's Hump that can still shoot under his age on the golf course with the help of regular adjustments!). We relieve patients from the pain and discomfort caused by poor posture while restoring the health of the spine using our safe and effective chiropractic care and nutritional guidance. The power of an adjustment is bigger than you know.
Please contact us by calling (615) 794-9155 to schedule an appointment. We will detect and correct any silent or symptomatic postural subluxations that can rob you and yours of a better life.
In the words of Sir Mix-a-Lot, "The chiropractic dance is your chance...to prevent the HUMP!"
Yours in Health,
Dr. David R. Mason, D.C.
Be Fit. Eat Right. Think Well. Get adjusted.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.