Cervical Lordosis Treatment

Cervical Lordosis Treatment

Cervical Lordosis refers to the natural curve of the spine in the neck, known as the cervical spine. From top to bottom, a healthy spine forms an “S” shape, with a healthy cervical spine forming a gentle “C” at the top.

This curve not only helps the spine maintain stability and structure, but also helps absorb shocks, supports the weight of the head and keeps it aligned over the body, and allows the neck to move and bend normally.

When this curve is exaggerated in one way or another, it can affect the tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, nerves, and spinal cord in the neck. As such, you should address the condition to prevent injury and further complications.

The term “cervical lordosis” normally applies to cases in which there is an abnormal, excessive inward curve (hyperlordosis) or a definite lack of curve (hyperlordosis). Less common are the cases in which the curve is increasing in the wrong direction. This condition is called reverse cervical lordosis. Also, these cases involve a curve to the right or left.

At the Southwest Scoliosis and Spine Institute, our expertly trained doctors can help you get back to the life you want to live. Come in for a consultation with one of our spine specialists, so they can help stop the pain and get you back to enjoying life.

Is this Condition Serious?

Most cases of cervical lordosis have minor symptoms and do not pose an immediate threat to the patient’s health. However, if steps aren’t taken to address the condition, it will almost certainly worsen over time. This eventually leads to pain and long-term discomfort.

Other risks include:

Increased vulnerability to injury –
An abnormal curve means the neck can’t distribute mechanical stress due to muscle weakness and instability. And, this makes you more vulnerable to spinal injuries resulting from impacts such as in a car accident or fall.

Disc degeneration and weakness –
The abnormal curve causes spinal tension and this results in increased pressure on the discs of the spine, which contributes to the degeneration of the vertebrae and discs. This can lead to a bulging or herniated disc, as well as conditions like cervical spinal stenosis and cervical myelopathy.

Changes to posture and appearance –
While it may not be painful or uncomfortable, the misalignment of the spine due to lordosis can cause obvious changes to your physical appearance. This includes forwarding head posture and an overall asymmetrical appearance.

Common Causes of Cervical Lordosis

These include traumatic injury, poor posture, obesity, osteoporosis, and conditions like degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. Lordosis can also occur as a result of inherited conditions like achondroplasia (dwarfism) or certain neuromuscular disorders.

If the curve of the spine is only mildly exaggerated and there isn’t any pain or other symptoms, medical treatment may not be necessary.

When the curve is noticeable enough that it causes problems, the treatment option often depends on the severity and the cause. For example, lordosis caused by muscle weakness or being overweight often improves with simple interventions like weight management and exercises that strengthen the neck.

Symptoms of Lordosis

Cervical lordosis symptoms vary greatly from person to person. For many, a visible change in the neck alignment (commonly referred to as a “swayback” neck) may be the only sign, especially if the curve isn’t compressing any nerves or vertebrae.

Because the neck needs to constantly support the head, in people with an abnormal curve, the muscles often have to do more work. This results in these muscles being pulled in different directions as the body tries to compensate. As a result, the most common symptoms of cervical lordosis are:

• Pain in the neck, which may extend to the shoulders and upper back
• Muscle spasms and tightness
• Limited mobility

Other, more serious symptoms can also occur as a result of pressure on the nerves in the cervical spine, including things such as:

• Numbness, tingling, and electric-shock-type pains in the arms, legs, and feet
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty controlling muscles
• Difficulty controlling bladder function

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to make an appointment with us as soon as possible, as they can lead to serious and possibly irreversible nerve damage.

Cervical Lordosis in Children

Usually, when cervical lordosis occurs in children, it does not have a cause. Called benign juvenile lordosis, this condition is typically the result of muscle weakness or tightness in the hips. In most cases, this condition corrects itself as the child gets older. If not, specific exercises may be prescribed to improve muscle tension and build strength in the hips.

There are also certain rare conditions that can lead to lordosis in children, including:

• Cerebral palsy
• Myelomeningocele is a condition in which the spinal cord protrudes through a gap in the bones of the back
• Muscular dystrophy
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Arthrogryposis is a condition that causes stiffness and prevents a normal range of motion in joints

If you think that your child is having an abnormal curve to his neck and it occurs due to cervical lordosis, you should talk to one of our doctors who is an expert in treating complex spine conditions. Our doctors are orthopedic spine specialists and have specialized training to detect such conditions and provide the best course of treatment.

How to Diagnose Cervical Lordosis?

At the Southwest Scoliosis and Spine Institute, doctors Richard Hostin, MD, Devesh Ramnath, MD, Ishaq Y. Syed, MD, Shyam Kishan, MD, and Kathryn Wiesman, MD begin every exam with a thorough physical assessment. Diagnostic testing includes bend tests. These tests allow doctors to detect any loss of flexibility, gauge the range of motion, and check on the alignment of the spine. These observations help to determine any problems associated with cervical lordosis or similar conditions.

Our doctors will also go over the patient’s medical and family history to help them identify any risk factors. Our orthopedic spine specialists will also take the time to address symptoms and concerns, as well as answer any questions you may have and discuss the treatment options available.

If the clinician suspects cervical lordosis, they will order tests, including X-ray imaging using our advanced EOS X-ray system. Located right in our office, it allows us to take full-body images from the front, back, and sides. Using these images, our doctors are able to build a 3D model of the patient’s spine so they can accurately measure the extent of any abnormal curvature. Additional imaging may be necessary to determine if there is any compression of the nerves or spinal cord.  These tests may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans.

Treatment of Cervical Lordosis to Straighten or Reduce the Curve & Pain:

• Medications (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation
• Physical therapy to build strength and increase range of motion
• Weight loss programs to reduce load and improve posture
• Nutritional supplements to improve bone health (vitamin D, calcium)

In adolescents, whose spines have not completely stopped growing, the option of braces is also a good treatment. This helps to control the progression of the curvature. Bracing is typically not effective in adults as their spines have finished growing and are not as flexible.

In cases where there is severe curvature – especially where there are symptoms of nerve compression – surgery may be recommended. The type(s) of surgery recommended depends on the age and overall health of the patient, as well as the cause of the curve in the first place.

Preventative Medicine

Preventative medicine is often talked about because it really works.  Adults and parents of children who think they or their child might have Cervical Lordosis really need to be proactive and be examined before this nasty condition gets worse and excruciating pain sets in.  There are non-surgical treatments that can definitely help.  Therefore, for peace of mind and good health in the future, call the Southwest Scoliosis and Spine Institute with offices in Dallas, Plano, and Frisco, Texas.  The phone number is 214-556-0555 to make an appointment.

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