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.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Kyphosis?
The main signs of kyphosis are:
- A rounded, hunched back. Sometimes the rounding is hard to see. Other times it's more noticeable. Some teens can't straighten their curve by standing up and some can.
- Back pain. Some teens with kyphosis have back pain.
The signs of kyphosis often become obvious during the growth spurt that happens around puberty.