Lumbar curvature of the spine. Lumbar lordosis - how to be and what to do? Reasons for the development of lumbar lordosis

The essence of the definition of "lumbar lordosis" is that it is not at all a disease, as many patients imagine. By itself, lordosis is a bend, and a natural one, which should be at the spine due to its natural structure. Speech about a violation of the norm can go when lordosis goes beyond the boundaries determined by the bending angle.

A person normally has two lordosis. One of them is cervical. The second is lumbar. Located, respectively, below, in the lumbar region, represents the deflection of the vertebral arch inward. Pathological lordosis is not such a rare phenomenon that occurs either in a congenital way, or acquired as a result of lifestyle, overload, and illness.

If the lower back bends in excessively, bringing lordosis beyond the norm, this becomes the cause of pain and leads to various diseases of the spine.

By the way. Very often, lumbar lordosis begins in women around the age of thirty, during pregnancy. When they are carrying a baby, posture changes, the center of gravity shifts, and to lighten the weight of the heavy belly, the spinal deflection increases.

Species differences

There is a certain set of parameters that gives the characteristics of lumbar lordosis. According to these parameters, the disease is divided into types.

Table. Division into types.

Separation	View 1	View 2
Cause of occurrence	Primary - in which a bend that goes beyond the norm is caused by the growth of any formation (of any quality). It can also be a consequence of vertebral pathology received from birth.	Secondary - is caused directly by mechanical stress to which the spine has undergone.
Time of appearance	Congenital - found in early childhood, but the anomaly is usually already present at birth, or appears during childbirth.	Acquired - development begins under the influence of external factors such as injuries, diseases of the spine, or tumor-like formations.
By type of deviation	Hyperlordosis - the deflection is too large.	Hypolordosis - deflection is less than normal or smoothed (absent at all).

Causes of occurrence

Since a pathological phenomenon can be defined as congenital or acquired, the causes of occurrence are many and varied. It is worth dividing them into two large groups. The first includes the causes of congenital lordosis, the second - acquired.

Congenital pathology - causes:

one of the parents suffered from the disease;
during the gestation of the fetus in the womb, the mother violated the diet, as a result of which a deficiency of certain elements was formed;
the woman (mother) had injuries during pregnancy;
the child was injured during childbirth.

Acquired pathology - causes:

during pregnancy, due to the deepening of the deflection of the lower back to compensate for the increased load, lordosis becomes pathological, but after childbirth it returns to normal;
in patients with complicated flat feet, the spinal deflection deepens;
hyperlordosis gives osteochondrosis and its varieties, as well as Schmorl's hernia;
due to mechanical damage to the vertebral structures, lordosis may increase;
pathology is formed due to severe stretching or multiple muscle tears along the spine;
deflection may increase after any inflammatory process in the spine;
also pathology is given by complications of radiculitis;
not the last cause of pathological lordosis in a modern person is a sedentary lifestyle and an almost constant sitting position;
the disease can be diagnosed in those who are involved in heavy sports or experience other overloads that spasm the spinal muscles;
the deflection deepens with gross metabolic disorders;
alcohol and nicotine abuse can also lead to an increase in lordosis.

Athletic belt

Disease symptoms

With a difference in the types of pathology, it is natural that the symptoms also have a different character. They depend on many factors - the causes of the disease, the patient's lifestyle, the degree of the anomaly. Again, pathological lordosis can be either hyper, when the lower back is overly arched, or hypo, when it is overly aligned.

By the way. While the anomaly is insignificant, at this stage the manifestations are minimal, and the patient may not even be aware that the pathological process has begun. Discomfort, pain, and complications will come later.

The first symptom that occurs as the bending angle grows is pain. In the deflection, it is scattered and occurs when the trunk is flexed, for example, bends. At the same time, the stomach rushes forward, and the buttocks move back, which gradually deteriorates posture.
Smoothing the deflection flattens the back. This also gives pain, but specifically in the lower back. The body becomes inflexible, as if "wooden".
In addition to back pain, sensations can radiate to the gluteal region.
At a certain stage, numbness and loss of sensation occurs in the legs.
The process of walking becomes difficult. At first it hurts to walk quickly, then sensations appear at any rate of movement and the motor functions themselves are difficult.
The activity of the organs located in the small pelvis is disrupted.
Disruptions and disturbances in the digestive system are observed.
In men, potency may decrease or disappear.
Women experience increased pain during their period.

Diagnostic procedure

At first glance, it seems that knowing the definition of pathological lordosis, it is easy to recognize it yourself. But to understand for yourself whether there is an anomaly or this is the norm, you can only with hyperlordosis, and even then in its deepest stage.

By the way. When the lower back is visually excessively concave, pains are felt, posture changes and other symptoms are present, the patient can determine that he has

But if the deflection in the lower back is smoothed out, and this happens gradually, very often the onset and even development of the pathology goes unnoticed for the patient.

There are several methods of preliminary self-diagnosis that are used at home in order to understand if there is an abnormality, and whether it is time to go to the doctor. One of them is to stand against the wall, press your back, back of the head, heels, shoulder blades, and pelvis to it. Then check if the hand passes in the gap remaining from the wall at the level of the lower back. If so, the bend is probably pathological, and you need to see a doctor.

Important! The distance between the spine in the lower back and the plane of the wall should be, but not large, about half the thickness of the arm. If it is absent at all or it is less, this is a reason for referring to and diagnosing hypolordosis.

The doctor (this can be a therapist or traumatologist) at the initial appointment conducts tactile probing, visual examination, questioning the patient for complaints and noticed changes. It is important to describe in detail the manifestations of pathology, as accurately as possible - this will help to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an adequate course of treatment.

Diagnostic methods can be as follows.

If you want to know in more detail and also consider when magnetic resonance imaging is shown, you can read an article about it on our portal.

Treatment

To cure pathological lordosis, a multifaceted differentiated approach is required. Correct treatment affects the anomaly in a complex manner, from all sides. Only this will give a full therapeutic effect and will avoid disability or complex surgical intervention.

For lumbar lordosis, the following specialists are involved in treatment (in addition to a surgeon and an orthopedist, depending on the type of disease):

vertebrologist - if pathology is accompanied by osteochondrosis;
neuropathologist - if nerve endings are damaged;
gastroenterologist - if the cause of lordosis is in disorders of the digestive system;
oncologist - if there are tumors or metastases.

The most common variant of lordosis, which is diagnosed in the maximum percentage of patients treated with this problem, is lordosis complicated by osteochondrosis (or arising as a complication thereof).

In this case, treatment includes:

drug therapy;
physiotherapy;
massage;
medical gymnastics.

Drug therapy

The doctor prescribes drugs for the treatment of pathological lordosis, based on the examination and the established diagnosis. The duration of the course and dosage, as well as the names of specific drugs, may differ, but the groups are usually used according to the scheme.

Table. Groups of medicinal drugs and their effect.

Group	Effect
	They are able to accelerate the processes of cartilage tissue regeneration. Slows down the rate of destruction in the disk structure. Significantly increase the effectiveness of therapeutic treatment.
	They relieve pain, remove puffiness, stop the inflammatory process.
	They are necessary to relieve muscle spasm and improve blood circulation in the affected area.
	They relieve pain and return the patient to a normal state without pain.
	Used for severe and prolonged pain experienced by the patient, to prevent and relieve depressive conditions.
	Complexes are taken to make up for the lack of necessary elements and to raise immunity.

Important! All medications, not excluding vitamins, must be prescribed by a doctor, since their spontaneous use will lead to irreparable complications.

Physiotherapy effect

Physiotherapy apparatus

Treatment with various physiotherapeutic methods is required. They are used to strengthen muscles, relieve pain, reduce tumors, and speed up the healing and healing process.

The list of methods includes massage, exercises, and physiotherapy. The main thing is to correctly combine and set the frequency of procedures, which will contribute to a speedy recovery.

Physiotherapeutic treatment methods:

electrophoresis using anabolic steroids;
acupuncture for the implementation of point effects;
installation of leeches to activate blood circulation;
electrical stimulation of nerve endings;

underwater stretching of the spine;
massage;
physiotherapy.

Massage procedures must be performed by a specialist. In lumbar lordosis, the area of \u200b\u200binfluence extends to the buttocks and the entire lumbosacral zone.

Important! In no case is the spine massaged, since pressure on it can increase pain and pinch the nerves. Movement and impact are soft and smooth, without harsh pressure.

Therapeutic gymnastics is also performed according to the doctor's prescription, it is better if the first classes will be held in the exercise therapy group.

The following exercises are used to correct hyperlordosis.

Lying supine, the back is leveled, pressed against the surface of the floor, the stomach is drawn in. The bending of the lower back decreases, the muscles expand, the load on the affected area is weakened.
Standing with legs wider than the shoulders, inclinations are made in such a way that the back is rounded, without pressure being exerted on the lower back.
Lying again, the legs are pulled up to the head in order to round the lower back.
The same thing - pulling up the legs with a rounding of the lower back - can be done on the horizontal bar.
Without abducting the lower back, with a straightened back, smooth squats are done.

The set of exercises may be different, as long as it includes stretching exercises and relaxing muscles.

Council. Before gymnastics, it is necessary to warm up and not do sudden movements during the exercise.

Prices for orthopedic sports shoes

Operative treatment

There are cases of pathological lordosis, which are mainly congenital, in which surgery is recommended. Of course, everything is carefully weighed beforehand, because any operation on the spine can result in disability or inflammation caused by an infection. Therefore, the surgeon gets down to business only when there is no way to conservatively correct the lordosis.

Important! If the pathology is started and not treated as necessary, the patient can reach kidney failure, infertility, impaired erectile function, and leg paralysis.

Preventive measures

Can lumbar lordosis be prevented? If it is not congenital - quite. The best prevention is considered to be an active lifestyle, health monitoring, adherence to dietary rules, and physical education.

In the morning, exercises are done, moreover, regularly, and not from time to time. Going to the gym or fitness club is also welcome, only you need to monitor the loads and follow the technique of working on apparatus.

Compliance with the regime, healthy eating, good rest and sleep (for which you need to purchase a hard mattress and an orthopedic pillow) will help prevention.

If the work is sedentary, be sure to control your posture. In between - hang on a horizontal bar or otherwise warm up.

Video - Lumbar lordosis. Posture correction

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The spine of a person when looking at it from the front should be straight, the revealed lateral curvatures will be a deviation from the norm, but in the anteroposterior direction, that is, when viewed from the side, you can notice 4 natural bends. These curves of the spinal column in the cervical and lumbar regions (lordosis), thoracic and sacrum (kyphosis) are designed to compensate for the pressure exerted on the spine during vertical loads and to protect it from injury. Let us dwell in more detail on lordosis in the lumbar spine.

Lordosis is a curvature of the spinal column with a bulge directed forward, and - with a bulge backward. Such bends are:

physiological, i.e. natural,
pathological - deviating from the norm, recognized as a disease (pathology) - curvature of the spine.

It all depends on the amount of bend.

Natural lordosis forms in the cervical and lumbar spine during the first year of a person's life, when he begins to sit, learns to stand and walk.

The normal bending angle of the spine in the lumbar region is 150-170 degrees.

Pathological curvature of the spine forward can form at any age due to various reasons (trauma, illness, during pregnancy, etc.) and is accompanied by pain, changes in posture and disturbances in the work of internal organs. Changes occur in the spine itself: the load on the vertebrae becomes uneven, joints suffer, the mobility of the spine decreases, and conditions are created for the occurrence of hernias.

The earlier the pathology appears and the longer it remains unattended, the more pronounced its signs and more serious consequences will be.

So, when pathological lordosis appears in childhood or adolescence, the chest is deformed, as a result of which the internal organs are compressed, and their functions are disrupted.

What do diagnoses mean?

A healthy spine in the cervical and lumbar spine has curves (lordosis) of a certain degree. With deviations from normal values, we can talk about pathological lordosis, which can be of two types.

Lumbar lordosis is smoothed (straightened)

If the bend in the lumbar spine is smoothed (or straightened), then this pathology is called "hypolordosis". If the spine is not flexed sufficiently at the lower back, the axial loads will not be sufficiently mitigated.

A healthy spine in such cases, due to the bending in the lumbar region, compresses like a spring and reduces the pressure several times. If this does not happen, the vertical load on the intervertebral discs increases significantly, which leads to their deformation, displacement, and the development of pain in the lower back.

The basis for the diagnosis of smoothed lordosis in the lower back is usually where the doctor can see a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs, the convergence of the anterior parts of the lumbar vertebrae and the distance of the processes.

Typically, hypolordosis occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise. When a person is sitting, the curves of the spine are smoothed out. With a long stay in a sitting position (overstrained) and gradually straighten the natural curvature of the spine, spoil the posture. The bending angle of the spinal column in hypolordosis is more than 170 degrees.

flat back;
rapid fatigue in sitting and standing positions;
pain in the lumbosacral region;
altered gait.

Increased lordosis in the lumbar region

The opposite situation, when the lumbar deflection of the spine is too pronounced, is called "hyperlordosis". The bending angle for this diagnosis is approximately 145-150 degrees.

On x-rays of the lumbar spine, you can see that the anterior surfaces of the vertebrae diverge in a fan-like manner, and the spinous processes are practically connected to each other.

Hyperlordosis can be congenital, which is usually associated with a hereditary predisposition and intrauterine developmental disorders of the vertebrae before the birth of the child. Also, this diagnosis can be made already to an adult - then we are talking about acquired hyperlordosis.

Obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, endocrine diseases increase the risk of developing hyperlordosis.

External signs of hyperlordosis:

protruding buttocks and a deviation of the pelvis back;
protruding belly;
a large "arch" under the lumbar region in the supine position.

The subjective symptoms of the presence of increased lordosis in the lumbar spine include constant strong tension in the lower back and the appearance of painful sensations when lying on the stomach.

Causes of pathology

Hyperlordosis and hypolordosis have a number of unpleasant consequences for the body, including: displacement of internal organs, accelerated destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of joints and bones. Therefore, it is important to know the factors that can contribute to the appearance and development of these pathologies.

Congenital malformations of the curvature of the spine are associated with heredity and birth injuries.

Acquired lordosis usually develops by the age of 30, which is associated with physical inactivity, weakness of the muscles and ligamentous apparatus, a long stay in a sitting position, first while studying at school, other educational institutions, and then at work in the absence of proper physical exertion and taking care of one's health.

weak back muscles;
pathological or congenital dislocation of the hip, immobility of the hip joint;
osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias and other chronic diseases of the spine;
spinal column injuries;
malignant neoplasms in the spine itself or in the nearest organs;
tuberculosis;
pregnancy.

Hyperlordosis manifests itself in women during pregnancy as the fetus grows. A growing belly increases the natural curvature of the spinal column, and the back muscles are no longer able to keep the spine in its usual position. After childbirth, with normalization of weight, the back is gradually restored, and the angle of bend in the lower back returns to its normal value.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis can be made by a surgeon or traumatologist. Preliminary diagnosis is carried out on the basis of examination and medical history, an assessment of the range of motion and muscle strength. In addition to this, the neurological status is assessed.

The most accurate picture of the condition of the spine can be given by X-ray. In difficult cases, when it comes to the presence of somatic diseases or neurological symptoms, other types of research are used, for example:

If there is a suspicion of the presence of inflammatory processes, tumors, laboratory research methods are used.

Lumbar lordosis treatment

Often, such a diagnosis is not noticeable, does not cause inconvenience and pain, so patients delay treatment. But if the degree of deviation from the normal value of the angle is too great, you should start treatment immediately. Indeed, with destructive changes in one area of \u200b\u200bthe spine, the load is redistributed to others, which means that a pathological condition in the lower back threatens with the emergence of problems in the cervical or thoracic regions soon.

Treatment will depend on the origin of the disease and the degree of curvature.

If the cause of hyperlordosis is an infection, then first you need to cure the underlying disease, remove inflammation, and then - its consequence in the form of curvature of the spine.

If the curvature of the spinal column has changed due to obesity, then weight loss measures are taken first, including a special diet and exercise program.

In any case, if lordosis appeared as a consequence of any disease, you first need to get rid of the disease, i.e. eliminate the cause, and gradually correct the consequences for the back.

If lordosis was detected in the early stages, then it is not difficult to cure it.

Exercise therapy classes will strengthen the muscle corset, which will reduce lower back pain. Such classes can be carried out at home, without the use of special simulators.

A combination of strength training with relaxation and stretching exercises will give the best effect.

In more complex cases, medications are added to the above measures: (, Tizanidine, Meprotan), pain relievers,.

With congenital lordosis and in very advanced cases, only an operation can help, after which rehabilitation measures and the continuation of traditional treatment will be carried out.

When lumbar lordosis the natural deflection of the spine in the lumbar region changes. As a result of pathological changes, pain occurs, posture is distorted, and the lumbar vertebrae are deformed. Launched lordosis leads to dysfunction of internal organs located in the pelvic region.

Description of the disease

In a normal state, the spine in the lumbar region deviates from an imaginary vertical along the human body by 20-40 °... A larger deviation leads to the development of pathologies. Physiological lordosis performs the functions of correctly distributing the load on the spine during walking, cushioning and softening discs at moments of movement.

In most cases, hyperlordosis develops, in which the angle of deviation of the lumbar spine reaches 40-45 °... With a strong increase in the deflection angle, a serious external deformation occurs, which manifests itself not only as painful sensations, but also as a clear visual defect.

Some patients are diagnosed with straightened lumbar lordosis, which means that the angle of deviation from the imaginary axis has gone down. The lower back deviates less than 20 °... This manifestation of pathology is called hypolordosis or smoothed lordosis. Hypolordosis is more often detected in elderly people. The risk group includes people with osteochondrosis and lumbar hernias.

The reasons for the development of the disease

Lumbar lordosis occurs as a result of excessive stress, as well as after suffering some infectious and organic diseases. Such a pathology can be congenital. Lordosis is classified based on the causes of:

Primary... This degree of lordosis can be either congenital or develop under the influence of other diseases and pathologies. Primary lordosis is often a consequence of inflammation of the vertebral discs, disorders in the structure of muscle tissue, tendons. Pelvic growths can also lead to lordosis.
Secondary... It develops as a result of the transfer of physical injuries to the lower back and joints of the hip. As a result of the injury, the angle of inclination of the lumbar spine relative to the axis changes, and pathology gradually appears.

Lordoses are formed for various reasons. Hyper- and hypolordosis are the result of some diseases (see table).

Additional causes of lordosis of the lumbar spine:

In the last trimester of pregnancy, the center of gravity of the female body changes, gait and posture change, and the load on the spine increases. If the muscles of the back are weakened, then lordosis can form and flow into a chronic form.
In childhood, lordosis develops as a result of birth trauma - severe pregnancy and childbirth with fetal hypoxia. Back injuries and falling mothers also pose a risk to the embryo.

In people of any age, there is a smoothed lumbar lordosis with a deviation to the smaller side.

At-risk groups

The likelihood of developing pathology increases in adults under the following circumstances:

Flat feet (changes posture, gait).
Passive lifestyle.
Drinking alcohol, smoking and the accompanying constant intoxication of the body.

In cases of development of lordosis due to trauma or other external factors, the disease can be successfully corrected with full restoration of the normal position of the lower back, and the return of an aesthetic appearance to the body.
Symptoms of lordosis

When the disease is just beginning to develop, a person practically does not notice the changes. The main symptom of the initial stage is a mild feeling of heaviness and aches in the lumbar region, which a person notices at the end of the day and associates with fatigue. Symptoms increase without diagnosis and medical intervention.

Common symptoms of lordosis:

Painful sensations in the lower back increase, spread to the groin, lower abdomen and above the back, up to the shoulder blades.

During physical exertion, there is a feeling of heaviness in the legs. Every day a person experiences fatigue, which becomes chronic.

Development of external changes: the abdomen begins to protrude, the buttocks noticeably move back, the hips cease to be reduced without noticeable efforts.

Constant pain in the lumbar spine causes a reflex desire to put a hand to this place. Such a manifestation can be seen in the elderly or pregnant women in the late stages of pregnancy.

Bends also cause pain, the person tries to do squatting movements instead of inclined ones.

Menstruation in women is accompanied by complications, pain, in men, impotence may develop.

In the initial stages, lordosis can be corrected by conservative therapeutic methods.

You can diagnose nascent lordosis yourself... You need to lie on a hard surface, preferably on the floor. Fix the body on the back in an even position. A hand is placed under the lower back. It should pass between the floor and the back. If a fist is placed in space, we can talk about hyperlordosis. Even if the palm does not pass or fits with difficulty - hypolordosis.

Treatment methods

For successful treatment, timely diagnosis of the disease is important. If a person has unfixed lordosis, in which the back remains mobile, you can fight the initial stage on your own. With fixed lordosis, medical intervention is necessary. As diagnostic activities used computed tomography, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging. The latter method is common when examining patients with suspected oncology.
Therapeutic treatment includes the use of drugs and physiotherapy... Drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. Physiotherapy allows you to enhance the effect of medications and align the position of the lumbar spine. Prescribed drug groups are listed below.

Medication

Pain relievers

The patient is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most often it is Movalis in ampoules and tablets. The analgesic effect of the drug is achieved within a few minutes after the injection, and 15 minutes after taking the pill. Movalis analogs:

Meloxicam.

Nimesulide.

Ibuprofen.

Diclofenac.

Ketorolac.

If pain occurs between taking drugs or injections, ointments are additionally used. The standard drug Diclofenac can be replaced with analogues - Voltaren, Fastum-gel, Indomethacin.

Muscle relaxants

These drugs are designed to reduce muscle tone and relieve spasms. With lordosis, Midocalm, Toperizon, Sirdalud are prescribed.

Chondroprotectors

Taking medications lasts at least 4 months. The standard course is six months. They are used for the destruction of the tissues of the vertebral discs. Helps restore tissue and improve blood circulation. These drugs include:

Hondrex.

Arthritis.

Mukosat.

Teraflex.

Artiflex.

Glucocorticoids

Designed to stop inflammation. The duration of admission and dosage is determined by the doctor, depending on the current condition of the patient:

Prednisolone.

Medical representative.

Solu-Decorin.

Prednisolone-Ferein.

Vitamins

They are prescribed for general strengthening of the body and improvement of nerve conduction. With lordosis, it is recommended to combine vitamins of groups B, D, E.

The number of drugs, their types, dosages and duration of administration are determined by the doctor. The selection is carried out based on the clinical picture - the current deviation of the spine from the norm. If the patient experiences side effects, it is not recommended to select analogs on their own. The replacement of drugs should be supervised by a specialist.

Physiotherapy measures

They are used both in the rehabilitation period after surgery and as a method of treatment in the early stages of lordosis. Doctors prescribe:

Electrophoresis... It is carried out using anesthetics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Helps to restore the metabolic process in the area of \u200b\u200baffected tissues.

Treatment with electric current, ultrasound, infrared radiation... The methods are designed to improve blood circulation. In rare cases, magnetotherapy and leech therapy are used, but such methods are considered outdated.

Acupuncture... It has an analgesic effect, improves nerve conduction.

Medical massage of the affected areas... Restores muscle tone to normal. The spine is better kept in a natural position.

In some clinics, stretching of the spine is prescribed. For this, a pool bowl is used with special equipment installed. The procedure must be carried out by a highly qualified specialist.

Physical exercises

Therapeutic gymnastics is an important element in restoring the correct position of the sacral vertebrae. It is used both in conservative treatment and in rehabilitation after surgery. The set of exercises includes:

Bends forward on straight legs... Made from a standing position. The goal is to reach the floor with your fingertips.

Straight back... It is necessary to stand straight against the wall. Heels, buttocks, and shoulders should touch the wall surface.

Seated bends... Bends are made forward, in which you need to grab the calves with your hands. The goal is to reach your knees with your head.

Squats... The exercise is done with arms extended forward, heels should not come off the floor.

Horizontal bar... The task is to hang on the horizontal bar in order to stretch the spine.

Standing and lying crunches... In a standing position, a person rotates the body. In the prone position, you must raise your knees at right angles to the floor and shift them from side to side.

Deflections... The man lies on his stomach and rests his elbows on the floor. The goal is to tilt the body up as much as possible.

At the initial stages, 7 approaches are performed for each exercise, in the future the load increases. If exercise therapy is prescribed by a doctor, then the quantity and quality of exercises are selected by the instructor.

Surgery for lordosis

Operations are carried out in cases of congenital abnormalities and lordosis acquired as a result of trauma. Flattening is done under general anesthesia. Basic techniques for correcting the curvature of the spine in the lumbar spine:

Strengthening the vertebrae with plates or pins. In the damaged section, the spine is securely fixed with metal structures. The mobility of the vertebrae is lost.

Replacement of vertebrae with implants. At the moment, such operations are carried out only in the United States, Germany and Israel. The intervention is expensive, but as a result, the vertebral tissue is completely replaced by flexible prostheses.

It is useless to treat lordosis with folk methods... Compresses and warming compounds will only help as emergency pain relief, if the appropriate medications are not at hand.

Prevention of lordosis boils down to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, losing weight, improving the quality of nutrition. If you are sedentary, you should take breaks and warm up every 45 minutes. Also useful are visits to the gym, long walks, and sleep on an orthopedic mattress.

Detection of symptoms of lordosis is an important reason for an immediate visit to a doctor. The sooner pathological changes are detected, the easier and faster they can be eliminated.

Is a physiological or pathological bend in the lumbar spine, characterized by a bulge. Physiological lumbar lordosis is present in every person (it is also in the cervical spine), and pathological lordosis differs from it in the degree of convexity of the bend. Most often, people are diagnosed with pathological lordosis of the lumbar spine.

Natural lordosis develops in a child during the first year, and pathological lordosis can occur at any age. Such disorders in the structure of the spine can be caused by many reasons, including congenital and acquired pathologies, as well as diseases of the musculoskeletal system, joints, muscles, etc. Pathological lordosis has a negative effect not only on a person's appearance, but also negatively affects work internal organs.

The disease manifests itself with back pain and problems with posture, it is treated both by surgery and by conservative therapy.

Causes of lumbar lordosis

It is impossible to consider the causes of lumbar lordosis in the context of pathology without understanding what constitutes normal lumbar lordosis. The anatomical norm for each person is the presence of four bends: two anteriorly (lumbar lordosis and neck lordosis) and two posteriorly (sacral and thoracic kyphosis).

You can notice the first signs of the formation of lumbar lordosis, like all other bends of the spine, immediately after the birth of the child. But in infancy, these curves are very weak. As the child grows up, begins to stand up and take the first steps, lordosis becomes more noticeable. The spine will fully complete its formation when a person reaches the age of 16-18. However, the pathology of the lumbar bend can begin to form much earlier.

Three lumbar lordosis can be distinguished, depending on its shape:

Hyperlordosis is an excessive pathological lordosis.

Natural or physiological lordosis.

Hypolordosis is the straightening of the natural bend.

Depending on the degree of fixation of lordosis, one can distinguish:

Fixed bend. In this case, even by an effort of will, a person cannot return the body to its normal position. Most often, this type of lordosis is formed due to the presence of volumetric formations in the spinal column, for example, with. The disease usually manifests in middle age. The onset of the disease can be both acute and imperceptible to humans. The course of the pathology has an unfavorable prognosis, leading to severe pain and neurodystrophic changes in soft tissues.

Partially fixed bend. In this case, changes in the angle of lordosis are limited. The development of this form of lordosis most often leads, or arachnoiditis of the spinal cord. The disease develops at a young age. The course of the disease is favorable.

Unfixed bend. In this case, the patient can, by an effort of will, return the spine to its normal position. This form of the disease most often becomes the result, hip contracture, or spondylolisthesis.

Having considered the anatomy of human lumbar lordosis, one can proceed to the causes of pathological lordosis of the lumbar spine.

All etiological factors are divided into two large groups:

Various pathological processes in the spinal column, which lead to the formation of primary lordosis. Primary lordosis can occur in humans due to congenital malformations of the spinal column. In addition, neoplasms in the area of \u200b\u200bthe vertebrae and their inflammation can become the cause.

Another etiological factor in the development of the disease is spondylolisthesis. It is a displacement of the upper vertebra in relation to the lower one due to trauma, tumor, congenital pathology, etc.

Dangerous in terms of the development of primary pathological lordosis are muscle torsion spasms or torsion dystonia, which are a manifestation of disorders in the functioning of the nervous system and are progressive in nature. Also inert tuberculosis can lead to pathology of the spinal bend.

Naturally, pathological bending can occur as a result of spinal cord injuries, both open and closed.

Adaptive or compensatory reactions of the lumbar spine, which arise in response to non-physiological conditions for it and lead to the formation of secondary lordosis, among which:

Intra-articular and extra-articular ankylosis of the hip joint.

Congenital or acquired hip dislocation.

Persistent restrictions on the mobility of the hip joint (contractures).

Diseases of the muscular and skeletal system.

Cerebral spastic paralysis of the legs.

Diagnosis of lumbar lordosis is the responsibility of an orthopedist. After listening to the patient's complaints and examining him, the doctor will refer the patient to an X-ray. Also in the arsenal of a specialist there are techniques that, already during the initial examination, will make it possible to determine the degree of lordosis mobility, as well as the presence of neurological disorders. The compulsory examination program includes palpation of the muscles of the back and the spine itself. Also, the doctor assesses the condition of the organs of the chest cavity using special tests.

Radiography is performed in two projections (frontal and lateral). To establish the degree of pathology while taking pictures, the patient can be forced to straighten as much as possible and bend as much as possible. The images obtained can also be used to judge the presence of violations in the form and structure of the vertebrae, as well as the correctness of their relative position.

Lumbar lordosis treatment

Treatment of lumbar lordosis is the responsibility of an orthopedist or vertebrologist. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the cause that led to the formation of the pathological bend.

The patient undergoes orthopedic procedures, he is obligatorily shown kinesitherapeutic rehabilitation. Therapeutic massage is useful, manual therapy gives a good effect. A complex of physiotherapy exercises is compiled on an individual basis. Swimming and water aerobics are very useful, but the back should not be too overworked.

Sometimes doctors prescribe multivitamins to help maintain bone health. They should contain phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin D and vitamin A.

As for drug therapy, it is usually symptomatic. It is possible to take painkillers, which, if necessary, relieve inflammation - these are Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Movalis.

Also, to reduce pain, wearing a corset or bandage is indicated. Surgery is performed if primary lordosis is detected.

Education: In 2005 he completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in neurology. In 2009 completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".

Lumbar lordosis - what is it?

The word "lordosis" in the human body is called the natural bulges of the spine forward for a comfortable position of the body, they are found in the neck and lower back. Is it good or bad to have lordosis and kyphosis - the bulge of the thoracic spine in the opposite direction? The curvature itself is not a pathology if the deflection angle does not exceed the norm and is 150-170 degrees in the lumbar region.

Lumbar lordosis affected area

Each person has physiological lordosis, but pathological, the indicators of which are deviated from the norm, can occur at any age.

Types of pathological lordosis

When making a diagnosis, the doctor assesses the pathology according to several criteria. First of all, a specialist evaluates the time of occurrence of an increased or decreased bend in the lumbar spine.

Depending on the reasons that influenced the growth of pathological lordosis, it is divided into:

Primary lordosis the lumbar spine develops under the influence of internal changes in the body. In inflammatory processes, the appearance of cancer, muscle weakening or incorrect position of the vertebrae affect the degree of bending of the spine and lead to deviations;
Secondary lordosis - a disease resulting from external influences.

Pathology manifests itself in two forms:

In hypolordosis, the physiological bend of the lower back is straightened. In this case, it is more than 170 degrees;
Hyperlordosis is expressed by increased deflection of the lumbar spine, the degree measure of the angle decreases to 140-145.

Causes of congenital lordosis

An important role in the progression of pathology at an early age is played by the nature of childbirth and the disease of the parents:

Disturbance in the curves of the mother's spine;
Congenital damage to the brain and central nervous system;
Childbirth trauma;
Incorrect physical growth of the baby.

Formation of bends of the spine in a child

Acquired lordosis. The reasons

In most cases, lumbar lordosis develops during life and gains intensity over the years. Therefore, doctors attribute lifestyle to the main reasons, as well as:

The absence or insufficient amount of physical activity leads to muscle weakness, the load is transferred to the spine and over time the bending angle becomes out of the norm;
Obesity. Overweight creates additional pressure on the spine.
Pathology and lack of mobility of the hip joint;
Direct injuries of the spine;
Chronic diseases, inflammations;
Formation of malignant or benign tumors in the lumbar region;
Overwork and muscle damage due to excessive physical exertion.

Pregnant women are at particular risk. During this period, the pressure on the girl's spine is maximized, the bend of the lower back increases and becomes too concave. After childbirth, he may return to normal, and may develop into pathological hyperlordosis.

Lumbar lordosis during pregnancy

Lumbar lordosis symptoms

With a minor violation, a person may not experience any discomfort in the lumbar spine and be unaware of the presence of curvature of the spine. The intensity of manifestation increases with increasing angle deviation in one direction or another.

The following symptoms indicate that lordosis is exacerbated:

The abdomen protrudes forward, the lower back is strongly arched;
Abduction of the buttocks and pelvis back;
Large distance between the surface and the lower back in the supine position;
Feeling of pain in the lower back when lying on the stomach.

With hypolordosis, there are:

Straightening the lower back, smoothing the deflection;
Rounding the upper back;
Overstrain and flattening of the lumbar muscles;
Feeling of numbness in the lumbar region.

Common signs for two types of lordosis of the spine in the lumbar region are:

Fatigue when walking or sitting;
Improper functioning of the pelvic organs and gastrointestinal tract;
Pain or numbness in the legs, lower back;
Sleep disturbances.

Diagnostics

The first signs of lumbar lordosis can be determined independently. You need to stand with your back against the wall, press your head and buttocks against it, and then try to hold your hand into the bend of the lower back. If this is possible, then the development of hyperlordosis has begun. Even if the palm is difficult to pass, the bend is too straight.

Initial examination by a traumatologist for lumbar lordosis

At the first suspicion of the presence of lumbar lordosis, it is necessary to consult a traumatologist. During the initial examination, analysis of muscle tone, a diagnosis is established and the need for subsequent research methods:

The X-ray image clearly shows the position of the vertebrae, which helps to conclude about the exact presence of lumbar lordosis, however, does not indicate the cause of the disease.
CT (computed tomography) gives an idea of \u200b\u200bthe condition of the bone tissue.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is prescribed for suspected soft tissue lesions, neuralgic causes of the development of the disease, and oncological formations.

Treatment

The fight against lumbar lordosis begins with eliminating the cause. Only after eliminating the main cause should one proceed to normalizing the bend of the lower back.

The treatment complex includes improving the functioning of the digestive, cardiovascular and nervous systems, when the spine is curved, unnatural pressure is exerted on the organs, which leads to diseases of the whole organism.

It is important to have a versatile therapy, only with this approach can a complete correction of lumbar lordosis be ensured. It is necessary to start therapy immediately, the consequences of lordosis include the development of arthrosis, lordoscoliosis, hernias.

Medicines

All medications must be prescribed strictly by the attending physician. Popular groups of drugs for lumbar lordosis are anti-inflammatory, painkillers, relieving spasms and warming up.

Medicines for lordosis - only as prescribed by a doctor

Additionally, B vitamins can be prescribed to improve the condition of the body's skeletal system.

Physical exercises

Performing special exercises tones the back muscles. All complexes of physiotherapy exercises contain a number of strength exercises that strengthen the muscle corset, and stretching, which provides relaxation and removal of spasms, the establishment of natural curves of the spine and lower back.

The execution does not require additional equipment, any person can do the exercises:

From a supine position, push your feet behind your head and rest your fingertips on the floor. Hands are spread apart.
Stand straight, as you exhale, lower the body to the floor, with your fingers, strive to the floor, your stomach stretches to your knees. Feel the stretch in your lower back.
Place your feet shoulder-width apart. As you exhale, do deep squats. Watch the position of the knees, they do not go beyond the socks, try to relieve the load from the back, striving for the natural deflection of the lower back.
Lie on your back. Raise your bent knees at a right angle. Hands are behind the head. As you exhale, twist and, alternately, each hand strive to reach the heels.

There is a wide variety of complexes, exercises are prescribed by a specialist. Yoga practice is often used in therapy.

Massage

Massage sessions relieve muscle spasm, help improve blood circulation in the lumbar region, and relax the nervous system.

Lumbar spine massage

In addition to classic massage, acupressure or lymphatic drainage is often prescribed.

Bandage for lordosis

One of the bandage options for lordosis

Wearing is prescribed for patients with a pronounced form of lordosis of the lumbar spine, as well as for women during pregnancy. In this case, the risk of developing further disorders in the position of the spine is prevented.

Surgical intervention

The operation is required only in the case of a strong bend of the lower back, most often with congenital pathological lordosis. Damaged vertebrae are replaced with artificial or metal ones.

This method of treatment can result in infection or disability, which is dangerous.

Sleep rules for lordosis

Sleeping in a regular bed can make the problem worse. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a special orthopedic mattress, based on individual indicators of height and weight.

Orthopedic mattress will help get rid of lordosis

Before buying, sleep with hyperlordosis or hypolordosis should be on the stomach or back, placing a roller of such a volume under the lower back, which will be equal to the natural deflection.

Prevention

It is important to take preventive measures in childhood, during the formation of the skeleton. Compliance with the following rules will be able to protect a person from spinal injuries, health will be preserved:

Monitor your posture throughout the day, never slouch.
Give up bad habits - smoking, alcohol.
Try to include as much activity as possible in your day, walk more, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and play sports.
Exercise regularly to strengthen your abs.
During sedentary work, do the warm-up set of exercises as a break. Get up, walk down the office / hallway for a few minutes.
While exercising in the gym, fully observe the exercise technique, monitor the weight in the exercises performed.
Pay great attention to weight, overweight leads to a host of problems, including lordosis.
While working at the computer, do not stretch your neck forward, the monitor should be at a distance of 45-70 cm from the eyes, the keyboard should be on the table surface.

People leading a healthy lifestyle are reliably protected from pathologies of the spinal column, which are very dangerous for the state of the whole body. But with the right approach to the treatment of pathological lordosis, each person is able to correct the curve of the lower back and return to normal life with a normal healthy back.