Curvature of the spine inevitably leads to impaired motor functions. Along with the spine, limbs, the pelvis, and the shoulder girdle undergo pathological changes.. Posture suffers, appearance worsens. But that's not even the main danger.. With severe degrees of curvature, the work of the internal organs of the respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems is disrupted.. Moreover, these violations can be dangerous not only for health, but also for life..

Types of curvature It is noteworthy that the spine is curved in absolutely all adults and healthy people.. This is what nature ordered in order to relieve the load on our spinal column, which, unlike animals, most of the time is in an upright position.. We have a straight spine only at birth. Then, as we learn to sit first, then stand and walk, it becomes curved.. Curvature of the spine is any deviation from the median axis.. In this regard, the following types of curvature of the spine are distinguished:.

• Kyphosis - curvature in the sagittal (anteroposterior) plane anteriorly;

• Lordosis - in the sagittal plane posteriorly;

• Scoliosis - lateral curvature to the right or left side.

A combination of these types is also possible, for example, thoracic kyphoscoliosis - simultaneous curvature of the spine in the posterior and lateral directions. Moreover, the first two types, lordosis and kyphosis, can be physiological, t. – normal. A person has two physiological lordosis in the cervical and lumbar regions, and two physiological kyphosis in the thoracic and sacral regions.. Physiological kyphosis differs from pathological degree and the presence of gross structural changes.. Unlike lordosis and kyphosis, scoliosis is always pathological.. Any lateral curvature of the spine, even to a minimal extent, is always a pathology..

Causes.

Curvature of the spine can be congenital or acquired. Moreover, there are many reasons that can lead to both congenital and acquired types of curvature.. Depending on these causes, structural and non-structural types of spinal curvatures are distinguished.. Structural, as the name implies, is characterized by a change in the structure of one or more vertebrae or the spinal column as a whole.

The main causes of curvature of the spine in these cases:.

•Heredity;

•Various genetic anomalies, including. leading to severe types of lesions of connective tissue structures - Marfan's disease, Kashin-Beck, Sheyerman-Mau, etc..

• Congenital and acquired diseases of the central nervous system (central nervous system) - cerebral palsy, residual effects of cerebral strokes, poliomyelitis;

•Ankylosing spondylitis - Bechterew's disease;

• Metabolic and dystrophic disorders - rickets, osteoporosis;

•Injuries of the spine;

• Tumors of the spine;

• Some types of diseases (tuberculosis, syphilis) at certain stages leading to damage to the spine.

In adults, the curvature of the spine may be the result of dystrophic-degenerative age-related changes that develop as osteochondrosis and its frequent complications - herniated discs.. With non-structural curvatures, the spinal column is not initially changed. The curvature of the spine in these cases occurs a second time, due to the pathology of other parts of the musculoskeletal system and internal organs..

In these cases, the reasons may be:.

• Injuries and congenital anomalies of the pelvis;

• Injuries and congenital anomalies of the lower extremities, including. - flat feet, clubfoot, unilateral or bilateral congenital dislocation of the hip;

• One-sided pain syndrome in diseases of the internal organs (one of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder), as a result of which the patient takes a long forced position of the body;

•Unilateral soft tissue scars;

• Inflammatory muscle lesions - myositis.

Curvature of the spine in children may be due to its rapid growth in length with initial weakness of the back muscles. Not the last role in the formation of pathology in childhood and adolescence is played by a systematic violation of posture in school classes and during the preparation of lessons..

Symptoms.

Symptoms of curvature of the spine depend not only on its type. The degree and localization of the pathology also affects the signs of the disease.. Curvature can develop in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. The bones of the sacrum are fixedly fused together, and therefore the configuration of the sacral region is not disturbed here.. With widespread curvature, several parts of the spinal column can be affected. In such cases, they speak of cervicothoracic or thoracolumbar curvature..

With lateral curvature of the spine, its degree is determined by the size of the scoliotic arc. If there are several arcs (S or Z-shaped curvature), then the degree is determined by the magnitude of the largest arc.

Curvature of the spine 1 degree - the angle of the scoliotic arc does not exceed 10 degrees. No subjective sensations. Cannot be determined on external examination.. If you take off your clothes, draws attention to the stoop, different heights of the angles of the shoulder blades and shoulder girdle.

Curvature of the spine 2 degrees - the angle is from 10 to 25 degrees. Deformation is more noticeable. The beginning of structural changes in the vertebrae according to the type of torsion (twisting). Unequal tone of the muscles of the back and chest, depending on the concave or convex arc of curvature. Back pain with prolonged sitting, physical exertion. Low tolerance for physical activity.

Curvature of the spine 3 degrees - the angle is from 26 to 50 degrees. Severe deformity of the spine and chest. Uneven size of intercostal spaces. Back muscle pain. Intolerance to even habitual physical activity.

Another 4th degree is distinguished when the angle of the scoliotic arc exceeds 50 degrees. In these cases, due to severe structural changes, the organs of the chest, abdominal cavity - lungs, heart, stomach and intestines suffer.. Long-term consequences of severe curvature - chronic pulmonary heart failure, persistent digestive disorders.

With a curvature of the lumbar spine, along with lumbar pain and sensitive, motor disorders in the lower extremities, ovarian dysfunction and uterine deformity in women, sexual disorders in men are possible, which leads to various forms of infertility. And the curvature of the cervical spine makes it difficult for blood to flow to the brain through the vertebral artery. Symptoms develop - headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbance, coordination disorders.

Diagnostics.

Diagnosis of curvature of the spine, as a rule, is not difficult. It is possible to identify the deformation of the spinal column at the stage of external examination. To determine the degree of curvature in more detail, you can use a conventional x-ray of the spine.. To diagnose the causes and complications, ultrasound, computed tomography, various types of laboratory tests are performed..

Treatment.

To correct the curvature of the spine, various methods of treatment are carried out, including:.

•Drug therapy;

•Therapeutic exercise (exercise therapy);

•Massage;

•Physiotherapy procedures;

•Surgical intervention.

The most effective of them is exercise therapy exercises, during which the muscles of the back and chest are strengthened, the spine is stabilized, and the sternocostal frame is aligned with it.. True, the exercises should be carefully selected taking into account the degree and localization of the pathology.. An incorrectly designed exercise therapy complex will not only not eliminate the curvature of the spine, but will further aggravate it.. Therefore, only a doctor should recommend all exercises..

The action of exercise therapy is enhanced by massage, physiotherapy procedures (magnet, electrophoresis). Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs in the treatment of scoliosis play only an auxiliary role.. It should be borne in mind that the curvature can be completely eliminated only at its initial degrees.. Severe degree 3-4 curvature cannot be completely corrected - with the help of conservative measures, you can only reduce it or prevent progression. The only way out in these situations is surgical treatment..

During operations, rigid fixation of the vertebrae with metal devices is carried out..

Prevention.

Prevention of curvature of the spine includes:; Timely treatment of diseases potentially dangerous in terms of curvature of the spine (osteochondrosis, herniated discs); Avoidance of injury; Rational mode of work and rest; Sports. In schoolchildren during the period of rapid growth, wearing elastic-type posture correctors is shown to prevent spinal curvature..

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