[Skip to Content]

Kyphosis

Medically reviewed by: Suken A. Shah, MD and Bernadette Fulweiler, APN

What Is Kyphosis?

Kyphosis (pronounced: kye-FOH-sis) makes a person's spine rounded so the back looks hunched over. Everyone has some rounding of the spine. But a larger rounding than normal can cause health problems like pain and breathing trouble.

Doctors sometimes treat kyphosis with back braces and physical therapy. A larger curve might need surgery.