Lordosis FAQ & Exercise Guide

(Article & FAQ Updated Nov 9, 2022)

This page contains the most popular questions people have about lordosis, lordosis exercises and the most important facts surrounding this medical condition that affects the spine.

On this page, you can find the answers to the most popular questions asked online, such as the known and unknown facts based on medical studies publicly available on this condition.

Lordosis is a medical condition that affects the lower back when the patient’s spine has an exaggerated inward curve. This medical issue affects people of all ages, from children to the elderly.

Patients with this condition have a swayback appearance with their buttocks swaying further out to the back while their stomachs appear to be swaying a bit out in front.

Children with this condition may have issues with pressing their lower back into the floor when they lay on their back, such as when they are in a sleeping position on their back. [1]

What causes lordosis?

Lordosis can be caused by a range of medical conditions including spondylolisthesis, achondroplasia, osteoporosis, osteosarcoma, neuromuscular conditions and hip problems. Since the cause of this spine problem has been not exactly determined, doctors say it can be caused by a range of possibilities including surgery or trauma.

It can also be caused by bad posture and overweight issues. [2]

Since the lumbar spine relies on the stomach’s muscles and lower back’s muscles for support, patients with posture issues who have weak abdominal muscles may be more prone to be diagnosed with this spine condition. 

lordosis treatment, Lordosis symptoms, Lordosis exercises

Patients who have gone through trauma incidents like sports injuries, serious falls, or accidents can be diagnosed with this condition as the presence of a weak spine can cause the affected vertebrae to curve further.

Neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and other conditions that impair nerve and muscle function, can cause lordosis. For overweight patients, it’s the extra weight that can put a strain on their lower back and pull it forward further increasing the risk of getting affected by this spine condition. 

When patients suffer from hip problems, they can also develop spine deformity, especially those with developmental dysplasia of the hip. [3]  

Which age group can Lordosis be found in?

Lordosis can be found in all age groups. Studies show that this condition can affect patients of all ages, including children and senior citizens. It is a condition that can be painful and can affect movement since it is found in the lumbar spine and patients with this medical problem may appear swayback and have an exaggerated posture. 

Children who are affected by this medical problem can have a large space underneath their lower back when they are lying on a hard surface facing upwards. There are cases where this condition, also known as benign juvenile lordosis, is present in some children but fixes itself as they grow up.

In these particular cases, doctors may not need to intervene but may provide medical support to the patients.

There are also cases where patients are born with this condition and others where it occurs after certain sports activities. There have also been patients who suffer from arthritis in the spine that develop into lordosis after a certain time. [4]

What is lordosis of the spine?

Lordosis of the spine is when there’s an exaggerated inward curve of the spine in the lower back. It is usually defined as an abnormal inward curvature that affects the area just above the buttocks, also known as the lumbar spine. [5]

How do you cure lordosis?

You can cure lordosis with medication that can help to reduce pain and swelling if that is the only issue affecting the patient. It can also be treated through physical therapy conducted on a daily basis to strengthen muscles and range of motion. 

For obese patients suffering from this condition, weight loss can help fix posture issues which simultaneously can also eliminate other medical conditions. Children and teenagers who were born with this condition can seek medical support in the form of braces to help them move around until the problem is treated. 

For severe cases, doctors may advise surgery due to neurological concerns. In most non-severe cases, doctors may recommend nutritional supplements like Vitamin D to help the patient. [6]

What problems can lordosis cause?

Lordosis can cause problems like neck pain, low back pain, and muscle pain. It also has the ability to affect the patient’s movement, especially when the issue is located in the lower back. A patient with a large degree of this condition can have trouble when lying on the back on a hard surface.

Studies show there are other problems that patients may have, such as tingling, muscle spasms or weakness, numbness, changes in bowel or bladder control, and sensations in the arms or legs. 

In general, this medical condition can change the patient’s posture by either pushing the neck further forward or pushing the hips and pelvis further forward than their normal position. Severe cases of this condition can cause a decreased ability to control the bladder or bowels but in extremely rare cases only. [7]

Which muscles are weak in lordosis?

The muscles that are weak in lordosis are the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominus, internal and external oblique) and hip extensors (hamstrings and gluteus maximus). These weak muscles can potentially be the cause of low back pain for patients suffering from this spinal deformity condition.

Studies show that chiropractors and physicians have acknowledged that abdominal and back musculatures can affect this exaggerated curve condition of the spine as abdominal muscles can tilt the pelvis posteriorly and as a result, change the curvature of the patient’s spine. [8]

Does lordosis affect walking?

Lordosis can affect walking as this challenging condition can lead to balance and walking difficulties, especially for patients with excessive lumbar lordosis. This swayback condition can cause gait and balance perturbations in some cases. 

As this condition progresses, patients may suffer from muscle weakness and imbalance which can lead to muscle shortening, postural deviations and contractures of lower extremity joints.

To determine if a patient’s balance and walking are affected, medical professionals can conduct the 6-min walk test and a range of balance tests including the Berg Balance Scale and Posturography. [9]

Can lordosis be corrected?

Lordosis can be corrected with customized treatment plans for patients based on the condition’s severity and causation. A medical professional can diagnose this exaggerated inward curve of the spine condition with the help of a physical examination and imaging scans. 

Studies show that only the most severe cases of this spine problem require surgery to restore the vertebral height if a spinal compression fracture has occurred. 

If mild lordosis is discovered, the patient may not require treatment. For cases where the patient does not feel any pain even if the curve becomes more pronounced, doctors won’t need to do anything as in this situation, there is no reason for a medical professional to intervene.

Most cases depend on the cause of the curvature. If this condition is a result of muscle weakness or being overweight, doctors can advise physical therapy and recommend the patient undergo weight management.

For children affected with this spine condition, doctors can recommend a back brace so the curve doesn’t progress as the child grows. For patients who are experiencing pain with this issue, doctors can prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to help lessen the discomfort and pain. [10]

How do you get rid of lordosis?

You can get rid of lordosis with the help of non-surgical treatment plans customized specially for your condition. If it is due to excess belly fat, weight loss treatment plans will be recommended to the patient.

If this condition is the result of another spine issue, rehabilitation exercises can help reduce symptoms within 6 months. 

For extremely severe cases of this condition, a minimally invasive surgical procedure may be required to restore the vertebral height of the patient. In rare cases, the patient may undergo an artificial disc replacement to treat this spinal deformity. [11]

Can lordosis be corrected with exercise?

Lordosis can be corrected with exercise. For non-severe cases of this spine condition, doctors may advise non-surgical customized treatment plans crafted especially for the patient based on the condition’s underlying cause. 

To correct this spinal deformity, patients are introduced to condition-specific exercises that are known to increase muscle strength and muscle flexibility. Condition-specific exercises can also help reduce the load on the patient’s spine. 

Patients are advised to integrate multiple treatment disciplines into their lifestyles like chiropractic care and custom-prescribed home exercises to correct this unnatural spinal curve. [12]

What exercises cure lordosis?

Exercises that can cure lordosis are back muscle stretching, plank exercises, stretching iliopsoas, pelvic tilt with exercise ball exercises, crunches, assisted lumbar flexion, supine hip flexor stretch, and hip flexors stretch. [13]

Pelvic tilt- pelvic tilt position is a great Lordosis exercise. The position is exactly opposite of the “arched back position”. It can help to correct curved posture if applied daily. The patient must lie on his/ her back with his/her knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Then he/she should inhale properly.

After that, he/she should exhale and tilt the lower part of pelvis simultaneously. Twenty repetitions of this Lordosis exercise must be performed daily.

Stability Ball Bridge- this Lordosis exercise strengthens the gluteal muscles. Lie on your back with your calves draped over the ball. Start with a pelvic tilt and the squeeze your butt until a bridge position is obtained. When you roll down, try to feel that each vertebra is touching the floor.

Your lower back should touch the floor before your pelvis. Make 12 repetitions daily.

Knees to Chest Stretch and Heel Slide- lie on your back with your knees bent and then lift both legs from the floor and draw the knees to your chest is another great Lordosis exercise. After that, lower one heel to the floor. Keep the opposite knee close to your chest. Rotate the other heel along the floor until the leg is straight.

Make 8 repetitions daily.

Exercises for this condition are recommended to be carried out on a daily basis for just 10 minutes to support a healthy spine, improve core muscles, decrease lower back pain, and realign pelvic tilt. [14]

Conclusion:

These are the most popular questions on lordosis and lordosis exercises that have been asked in recent times. If there’s something that you had like to ask regarding this spinal deformity, do not hesitate to drop us a message. If there’s something you would like to ask about this content, please let us know.  

References

  1. Lordosis. Lordosis | Boston Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/lordosis 
  2. Lordosis – lumbar. Mount Sinai Health System. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/lordosis-lumbar 
  3. What is lordosis? – spineuniverse. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/spinal-disorders/closer-look-lordosis 
  4. Gabbey, A. E. (2019, March 8). Lordosis: Causes, treatments, and risks. Healthline. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/lordosis 
  5. Lordosis of the Spine. Cedars. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/s/swayback-lordosis.html 
  6. Lordosis (swayback): Types, causes & symptoms. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23908-lordosis 
  7. Filiz MB;Toraman NF;Kutluk MG;Filiz S;Doğan ŞK;Çakır T;Yaman A; (n.d.). Effects of lumbar lordosis increment on gait deteriorations in Ambulant Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A cross-sectional study. Brazilian journal of physical therapy. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34119442/ 
  8. MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Lordosis: What is it, symptoms, treatments, and causes. Medical News Today. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/lordosis 
  9. Lordosis. Lordosis – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/lordosis 
  10. Lordosis treatment: Can it be corrected? [best treatment]. Scoliosis Reduction Center. (2022, August 25). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.scoliosisreductioncenter.com/blog/lordosis-treatment 
  11. Scoliosis, H. V. (2021, May 11). Lordosis: Guide to causes, symptoms, and treatments. Strauss Scoliosis Correction. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.hudsonvalleyscoliosis.com/what-is-scoliosis/lordosis/ 
  12. Lordosis. Types, Diagnosis and Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/lordosis 
  13. Upright. (2020, February 12). Lordosis exercises: Back Relief & Core Strength. UPRIGHT Posture Training Device. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.uprightpose.com/blog/lordosis-exercises-back-relief-core-strength/ 
  14. Hold sway over lordosis with this 10 minute home exercise routine. Liebscher & Bracht. (2022, August 3). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.liebscher-bracht.com/en/encyclopedia-of-pain/lordosis/exercises/

Old References

  1. Lonstein JE. Congenital spine deformities: scoliosis, kyphosis, and. Orthop Clin North Am 1999;30(3):387-405.
  2. [Internet]. [last updated 2012 Feb 1; cited 2013 Aug 20]. Available from:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0003762/.
  3. Gabbey ME. [Internet].[cited;2013Aug20]. Available from:http://www.healthline.com/
  4. Types of Spine Curvature Disorders [Internet]. [last updated 2012 Sep 3;cited 2013 Aug 20]. Available from:http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/types-of-spine-curvature-disorders.
  5. Mercer L. Postural Exercises. [Internet]. [last updated 2013 Aug 12;cited 2013 Aug 20]. Available from: http://www.livestrong.com/

 

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