Scheuermann’s Kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann’s Disease is a condition affecting the vertebral growth plates of the spine. It causes a form of structural Kyphosis, rather than a postural one.
What is Scheuermann’s Disease
In Scheuermann’s disease, there is a malformation of the spinal vertebrae – specifically, they are slightly shorter in height at the front than at the back, leaving them slightly wedge-shaped – This leads to a forward hunching curve in the spine. If the vertebral body deteriorates, the disc between the vertebra can make small protrusions into the vertebral end-plate above and below and is called a Schmorl’s node.
Scheuermann’s Disease is typically seen in the lower or mid-thoracic spine. It usually presents during the adolescent growth spurt and can lead to the affected vertebrae growing into a slight wedge-shape which is easy to see when viewed on an x-ray from the side.
The condition can progress during growth but will cease when growth is complete. Usually, the affected spine is very stiff, especially into backward bending and twisting.
How is Scheuermann’s disease diagnosed?
Scheuermann’s disease is diagnosed with a visual inspection followed by an X-ray, patients typically present with a hunched forward posture, very similar to kyphosis. The presence of conditions such as Scheuermann’s disease is one of the main reasons why an x-ray evaluation is important when dealing with kyphosis cases. For Scheuermann’s disease to be diagnosed, at least 3 adjacent vertebrae must be affected.
The increased kyphosis in Scheuermann’s is most noticeable when the patient bends forward to touch their toes, and an acutely visible hump can be seen from the side view.
What are the symptoms of Scheuermann’s disease?
Scheuermann’s condition is frequently painful and can be restrictive for the individual, who may need to curb activities and sports to keep symptoms to a manageable level. Pain is the usual primary complaint, however, any number of symptoms associated with physical restriction may be the cause of initial diagnosis.
Individuals with Scheuermann’s disease typically have a hunched over posture, similar to other kyphosis cases.
How is Scheuermann’s disease treated?
Treatment for Scheuermann’s kyphosis typically includes specific hands-on chiropractic treatment to help alleviate any specific pain and stiffness in the back, combined with exercises to extend the trunk and stretch the front of the chest while balancing the overall posture. With chiropractic biophysics treatment, a unique protocol is followed to improve the posture. It involves teaching Mirror Image exercises where a patient, shifts their posture into the complete opposite direction of the resulting Hyperkyphosis. The spine is then adjusted in the same corrective direction and tractioned/stretched into the same position.
In many cases, the condition can cause trouble spots around the hips or rib cage, whose natural range of movement can often be impinged upon by the kyphotic curve – the above approaches can be effective in reducing this effect.
Bracing is typically recommended when a Kyphosis progresses beyond 60 degrees as there is a tendency for the curve to continue to worsen even after growth has finished. Surgery is often recommended if the curve is greater than 70 degrees.
Old fashioned braces used to be the only way to non-surgically treat kyphosis. The development of specialised kyphosis braces, such as Kyphobrace, means that there is now another effective treatment option for kyphosis in teens and young adults that aims to not only hold but also reduce the kyphosis, and is low profile and hardly visible under clothing.
