Lordosis: What Causes the Swayback?
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What is lordosis?
Human beings are not straight. They possess some form of curvature in their neck, upper back, and lower back which impact the characteristic S shape of the spine. The curvature from the neck and lower back is called lordotic while that from the upper back is called kyphotic.
This curvature helps the body to:
- Absorb shock
- Bear the weight of the head
- Achieve proper alignment of the head over the pelvis
- Maintain stability and posture
- Achieve flexible movement and bending
There is a natural curvature however if one’s curve goes inward, it is called lordosis or swayback. It usually affects the lower back and neck, making them put excessive pressure on the spine and eventually leading to pain and discomfort. It can interfere with movement if severe and left untreated.
To effectively treat lordosis, the underlying cause and the degree of curvature must be taken into consideration. If swayback is reversed when you bend forward, it might not be a severe form and can this be handled by undergoing physiotherapy and exercising.
If you bend forward and the curvature remains the same, you will need to see a doctor.
Causes of lordosis
Lordosis can affect people of any age but there are some conditions which when present, increases the likelihood of developing swayback. They include:
- Spondylolisthesis: it is a spinal condition where there is forward slipping of a lower vertebra onto the bone below. It is treated either surgically or via physiotherapy.
- Achondroplasia: it is a common cause of short-limbed dwarfism.
- Osteoporosis: commoner in women, is a bone disease characterized by reduced bone density thus increasing the likelihood of developing fractures.
- Osteosarcoma: is a form of bone cancer that commonly affects the distal femur or proximal tibia.
- Obesity: it predisposes one to develop chronic non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or cancer.
Types of swayback
Lower back lordosis
It is more common and affects the lower back or the lumbar spine.
One easy way to check for this condition is by lying the back on a flat surface, in a normal individual there should be little space for one to slide the hand under the lower back but in someone with lordosis, there will be more space between their back and the flat surface. In severe cases, there will be an obvious C-like arching when they are erect. While from the side view, their abdomen and buttocks will protrude.
Cervical lordosis
Here, the spine in the neck region does not curve as it should. A healthy spine has the neck looking like a wide C, with the curve more towards the back of the neck.
One of the following happens in cervical lordosis:
- Extreme curvature
- Reverse cervical lordosis, where the curve runs in the wrong direction
- Right curvature
- Left curvature
Symptoms of lordosis
Muscle pain is the commonest symptom of lordosis. Abnormal curvature of the spine causes the muscles to stretch in various directions thus leading to muscle contractions. In cervical lordosis, the muscle pain could radiate to the neck, shoulders, and upper back. There may be an accompanying limitation of movement in the neck or lower back.
Swayback can be checked by lying on the back on a flat surface and sliding the hand through space in-between the floor and the curve of the back. In lordosis, the hand slides easily through space.
Ensure to see a doctor if you have other symptoms including:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Urinary incontinence
- Weakness
- Difficulty maintaining muscle control
- Pains that are like an electric shock
These symptoms could be indicative of a more severe condition.
Swayback in Children
Lordosis can occur in children without any identifiable cause. It is called benign juvenile lordosis. It causes muscle spasms or weakness of the hip. It usually corrects as the child grows.
Lordosis can also occur following an accident in children where there is hip dislocation.
Other causes of lordosis in children include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Myelomeningocele: here, the spinal cord protrudes through a gap in the bones of the back
- Muscular dystrophy: is an inherited condition that causes muscle weakness
- Spinal muscular atrophy: is an inherited condition that causes involuntary muscle movements
- Arthrogryposis: a congenital condition where there is a limited joint movement
These conditions are rare and are mostly nerve-related.
Lordosis in pregnant women
Studies show that lordosis in pregnant women is a compensatory response from the spine as it tries to realign the center of gravity. It manifests as back pain, a protruding belly, and buttocks which are typical lordotic features.
The back pain may be due to altered blood flow in the body and the pain will likely vanish after birth.
Diagnosing lordosis
The doctor will ask you some questions during history taking, perform a physical examination and also request investigations to help make a diagnosis. For the physical examination, you will be asked to bend forward and sideways so the following can be assessed:
- Flexibility of curve
- Alignment of spine
- Range of movement
- Presence of abnormalities
Further questions may be asked about the timing, severity, alteration in shape, and associated pain in the curve.
The test that can further help with diagnosis includes spine X-ray which will show the angle of the lordotic curve.
Treatment for lordosis
Lordosis usually doesn’t require medical treatment unless it is very severe. Treatment depends on how severe the curve is and the presence of other symptoms. The different modalities of treatment include:
- Drugs to combat pain and inflammation
- Daily exercising to increase muscle strength
- Weight loss to help with posture
- Surgery for severe cases with neurological involvement
- Braces in children and teens
- Nutritional supplementation such as vitamin D
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Outlook for swayback
Lordosis does not cause a problem in most people. Since the spine plays a vital role in the movement, it is essential to keep it healthy. When lordosis is left untreated, it could lead to problems especially in the spine, hip bone, legs, and internal organs.
Prevention of lordosis
Avoid standing for too long, take sitting breaks in-between standing. It is helpful according to studies. Sit on chairs with adequate back supports. Do exercises such as leg raises, shoulder shrugs, neck side tilts, yoga poses, pelvic tilt on a stability ball.
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When to see a doctor
You do not need to see a doctor if the lordotic curve corrects itself on bending forward, seek treatment if the curve remains. Also, seek treatment if you experience pain that interferes with your daily activities. It is important to treat lordosis when it occurs as this will help to prevent complications such as arthritis, and low back pain later in life.
Tonika Bruce, MSN, RN, MBA. is an accomplished nurse leader, published author, and personal development expert passionate about advancing healthcare management and quality patient outcomes.
She taps into the years of experience in healthcare management to produce credible and easy-to-understand health and leadership content. Her exceptional work has been featured in reputable publications, including Forbes, Recruiter, Inc, and the Color of Wellness magazine.
