Lordosis is an abnormal inward curving of the spine. This condition is typically only treated if the curve of the spine becomes excessive, causes chronic pain, or restricts flexibility and movement. The best lordosis treatment is physical therapy coupled with treatment of the underlying cause of lordosis. Children will also often wear a brace to prevent any extreme deformities from developing during growth. When lordosis is extreme and involves neurological problems, surgery is the best lordosis treatment.
The aim of lordosis treatment with physical therapy is to try to improve lordosis and prevent further progression by strengthening the abdominal muscles and the muscles on the front and back of the thigh. Once all of these muscles become stronger, they are able to work together to straighten the back by bringing the hips under the spine and holding them there. Conditioning involves working with a physical therapist at least once or twice a week, as well as performing daily exercises at home. For kids and occasionally for adults, a back brace may be needed to provide additional support until the muscles develop and the spine reaches a more normal alignment. Any pain resulting from the physical therapy and lordosis of the spine can be treated with anti-inflammatory pain medication.
Poor posture, structural problems in the back, osteoporosis, and obesity are all causes of lordosis. For each of these causes physical therapy is the best lordosis treatment, but when obesity and osteoporosis are involved, these issues need to be treated as well. Physical therapy will more than likely not halt the progression of lordosis unless the weight on the spine is reduced and the structural integrity of the vertebrae is improved. Obesity-related lordosis treatment should include help with weight loss to reduce the strain of excess weight on the spine. Lordodsis which is caused by osteoporosis should be treated with osteoporosis-relieving prescription medications, and weight-bearing exercises should also be included in the physical therapy.
Spinal surgery may be the best lordosis treatment for rare and extreme cases where lordosis has produced excessive curvature of the spine, neurological damage, and severe inflexibility. This complex surgery begins by adding hooks to the vertebrae of the back. A metal rod is then passed through the hooks and anchored, straightening and stabilizing the spine. The bone is then grafted onto the vertebrae to further stabilize the back. A long hospital stay is typically required following the surgery.
