It’s normal for your spine to have a few small curves. Spinal curvature helps you stand upright and move with flexibility. However, when you have a severe curve in your lower back, this can lead to a condition called lordosis. Lordosis, also known as swayback, can make your buttocks and your stomach stick out.
Lordosis itself isn’t always a big problem, but large curves in the spine put extra strain on the low back, causing pain and discomfort. Fortunately, the spine experts at Summit Orthopedics offer lordosis treatment for people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Symptoms of Lordosis
If you have lordosis, you may see a big inward curve in your lower back. Other symptoms include:
- A large gap between your lower back and a flat surface when lying on your back
- Lower back pain
- Muscle tension
- Neck pain
The symptoms you feel can depend on how severe the curve in your lower back is. People with mild lordosis might not have much pain or discomfort, but those with bigger curves can have problems that make daily life harder.
Causes of Lordosis
Lordosis generally develops slowly over time, but some people are born with it. There are different things that can cause this condition. Some of the most common causes include:
Poor Posture
Bad posture like slouching for a long time, can lead to lordosis.
Obesity
Carrying excess weight, especially around your stomach, can pull the pelvis forward. This makes the curve in your lower back bigger to help keep your balance.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra in the spine slides forward over the one below it. This instability can sometimes cause an increased curve in the back that leads to lordosis.
Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a group of disorders that cause weakness and loss of muscle mass. This can increase the risk of developing lordosis.
Achondroplasia
This genetic disorder affects bone growth and can result in dwarfism and a more pronounced lumbar curve.
Lordosis vs. Scoliosis
Lordosis is often confused with scoliosis, another type of irregular curve in the spine. While lordosis is an inward curve of the lower spine, scoliosis is when the spine curves to the side in an S or C shape. People with scoliosis may have uneven shoulders or hips and a visibly curved spine. They may also have back pain.
Lordosis Diagnosis
An orthopedic doctor uses a physical exam and imaging to diagnose lordosis. They will observe your posture while you stand and walk.
During the exam, your doctor may ask you to bend forward and to the side to see how the curve changes with movement. They might also evaluate your range of motion, muscle strength and reflexes.
Your doctor will likely order X-rays of your spine. These images provide a clear view of your spine. They can help your doctor confirm a diagnosis of lordosis and learn the degree of your spine’s curve.
Your doctor may be concerned about nerve involvement or other underlying conditions. In these cases, they might recommend other imaging tests like MRIs or CT scans to get a clearer view of your spine.
Common Treatments for Lordosis
The treatment for lordosis depends on the severity of the curve, your symptoms and the underlying cause. If you have mild lordosis that isn’t causing pain or other issues, you may not need treatment. However, if you have symptoms, several treatments can help.
Physical Therapy
During physical therapy, you’ll be taught posture techniques to help reduce strain on your lower back. Physical therapy will strengthen your abdominal and back muscles. Stronger muscles will provide better support for your spine.
Pain Management
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help manage mild to moderate back pain. Prescription pain medicine or muscle relaxers might help for severe pain.
Weight Management
If your weight is causing lordosis, you may need to lose weight. Losing weight can help reduce the strain on the lower back and possibly make the curve smaller.
Bracing
Your doctor may recommend wearing a brace to help support the spine and prevent a curve from getting worse.
Surgical Lordosis Treatment
Most people will feel better without surgery. However, if you have severe lordosis—or your curve gets worse—you may need surgery.
Spinal Fusion
During spinal fusion surgery, your doctor will connect two vertebrae together. This will provide more support for your spine and make it more stable.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting, like spinal fusion, connects two vertebrae, but a bone graft connects the bones using transplanted bone tissue. Over time, the bones will grow over the graft and make the area more secure.
How to Improve Your Spine Health
Good spine health is important for your overall well-being and can help prevent or reduce the symptoms of severe spinal curvature, like back pain. Here are some tips:
- Maintain a healthy weight: Talk with your primary care provider or orthopedic specialist to find out what a healthy weight is for you.
- Practice good posture: Stand tall with your shoulders back and down, and your chin parallel to the floor. When sitting, try not to slouch forward.
- Wear the right footwear: Try not to wear high heels for long periods of time.
- Maintain a supportive sleep posture: Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to help keep your spine aligned.
Get the Back Pain Help You Need
If you have symptoms of lordosis that interfere with your life, talk to a Summit Orthopedics spine specialist. Finding relief begins with a thorough diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.
Find your Summit Orthopedics spine expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
