Kyphosis
Kyphosis can do more than just impact your health. It can impact your self-esteem, making it harder to be outgoing. With Hoag Spine Center in your corner, you've got the team you need to find your strength and recover more fully from issues that can affect your posture. The Hoag Spine Center team takes a multi-disciplinary, patient-centered approach to spinal issues, bringing together the talents of renowned doctors, specialists and experts with the latest technology and treatments. The goal: to help you come back strong.
What is Kyphosis?
Kyphosis is defined as a condition of the spine in which the upper back has an exaggerated forward curve. This can result in a stooped or “hunched over” appearance. In addition to pain and stiffness in the upper back, Kyphosis can cause self-esteem issues due to the impact on a person’s appearance. In severe cases, the hunched posture can also compress the abdomen, causing issues like swallowing difficulties and acid reflux.
How is Kyphosis diagnosed?
While the round-backed appearance of Kyphosis can be diagnosed visually, your doctor will do a thorough exam that may include having you bend at the waist to judge your range of motion and tests of your muscle strength and reflexes. Other tests may be ordered to help diagnose the condition, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and bone density tests.
What are the risk factors for Kyphosis?
While the causes of congenital or childhood forms of Kyphosis aren’t well understood, there are several factors that can put you at greater risk for or lead to Kyphosis as an adult. These can include:
- A family history of Kyphosis
- Osteoporosis/low bone density
- Paralytic disorders like Cerebral Palsy or spinal muscle atrophy
- Traumatic injury to the spine
- Spinal surgery complications
- Spinal infection
- Arthritis of the spine
I’ve been diagnosed with Kyphosis. Now What do I do?
When you need spine care in Orange County, trust Hoag. At Hoag, our fellowship-trained team of spine specialists is here to help get you back to doing the things that matter most. We’re committed to treating you like a person, not a chart. Hoag provides the latest technology and treatments, with minimally-invasive techniques designed to help you recover quicker with less pain. Meet the Hoag Spine Center Team.
What treatments are available for Kyphosis?
If you’re diagnosed with Kyphosis, your doctor will carefully monitor the curvature of your spine over time. Depending on the severity of the case and its progression, treatment may include:
- Physical therapy
- Pain management with prescription or over-the-counter medication
- Regular exercise
- Being fitted for a spinal brace
- Treatments for osteoporosis, including upping calcium intake
- Surgery
Minimally-invasive robotic spinal surgery at Hoag
When your spine is on the line, trust Hoag for spine surgery. Hoag was the first hospital on the West Coast to offer the Mazor X Stealth™ advanced robotic navigation platform for spinal surgery. Combining 3D pre-operative planning tools with robotic precision, the system provides surgeons with advanced visualization of your body’s unique internal structures, and you with the great chance to come back strong from back surgery. Learn more about advanced robotic surgery at Hoag.
Award-Winning Care for the Spine at Hoag
There’s a reason why U.S. News and World Report’s 2022-2023 list of top hospitals ranked Hoag as High Performing — their top distinction — in neurology, neurosurgery and spinal fusion. A higher standard of care. Accurate diagnosis for more successful treatment. A multidisciplinary team of spine-care specialists who are committed to seeing you heal. That’s spinal care at Hoag. Read an essay about a real Hoag patient’s spine-care journey.
Confused about your condition? Trust Hoag Nurse Navigators
Facing a health issue that could involve surgery can be confusing for anyone. That’s why the Hoag Spine Center offers our unique Nurse Navigator program. These trained nurses are there for you, both as a guide and a resource for medically-accurate information about your unique diagnosis. It’s one more way Hoag is here for you through your journey as a patient, every step of the way. Get started with our spine nurse navigator.
What is Kyphosis?
Kyphosis is defined as a condition of the spine in which the upper back has an exaggerated forward curve. This can result in a stooped or “hunched over” appearance. In addition to pain and stiffness in the upper back, Kyphosis can cause self-esteem issues due to the impact on a person’s appearance. In severe cases, the hunched posture can also compress the abdomen, causing issues like swallowing difficulties and acid reflux.
How is Kyphosis diagnosed?
While the round-backed appearance of Kyphosis can be diagnosed visually, your doctor will do a thorough exam that may include having you bend at the waist to judge your range of motion and tests of your muscle strength and reflexes. Other tests may be ordered to help diagnose the condition, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and bone density tests.
What are the risk factors for Kyphosis?
While the causes of congenital or childhood forms of Kyphosis aren’t well understood, there are several factors that can put you at greater risk for or lead to Kyphosis as an adult. These can include:
- A family history of Kyphosis
- Osteoporosis/low bone density
- Paralytic disorders like Cerebral Palsy or spinal muscle atrophy
- Traumatic injury to the spine
- Spinal surgery complications
- Spinal infection
- Arthritis of the spine
I’ve been diagnosed with Kyphosis. Now What do I do?
When you need spine care in Orange County, trust Hoag. At Hoag, our fellowship-trained team of spine specialists is here to help get you back to doing the things that matter most. We’re committed to treating you like a person, not a chart. Hoag provides the latest technology and treatments, with minimally-invasive techniques designed to help you recover quicker with less pain. Meet the Hoag Spine Center Team.
What treatments are available for Kyphosis?
If you’re diagnosed with Kyphosis, your doctor will carefully monitor the curvature of your spine over time. Depending on the severity of the case and its progression, treatment may include:
- Physical therapy
- Pain management with prescription or over-the-counter medication
- Regular exercise
- Being fitted for a spinal brace
- Treatments for osteoporosis, including upping calcium intake
- Surgery
Minimally-invasive robotic spinal surgery at Hoag
When your spine is on the line, trust Hoag for spine surgery. Hoag was the first hospital on the West Coast to offer the Mazor X Stealth™ advanced robotic navigation platform for spinal surgery. Combining 3D pre-operative planning tools with robotic precision, the system provides surgeons with advanced visualization of your body’s unique internal structures, and you with the great chance to come back strong from back surgery. Learn more about advanced robotic surgery at Hoag.
Award-Winning Care for the Spine at Hoag
There’s a reason why U.S. News and World Report’s 2022-2023 list of top hospitals ranked Hoag as High Performing — their top distinction — in neurology, neurosurgery and spinal fusion. A higher standard of care. Accurate diagnosis for more successful treatment. A multidisciplinary team of spine-care specialists who are committed to seeing you heal. That’s spinal care at Hoag. Read an essay about a real Hoag patient’s spine-care journey.
Confused about your condition? Trust Hoag Nurse Navigators
Facing a health issue that could involve surgery can be confusing for anyone. That’s why the Hoag Spine Center offers our unique Nurse Navigator program. These trained nurses are there for you, both as a guide and a resource for medically-accurate information about your unique diagnosis. It’s one more way Hoag is here for you through your journey as a patient, every step of the way. Get started with our spine nurse navigator.