Lumbar kyphosis - is it good to exercise pre-opt?

[tampamom]

The 5th consult elaborated more on my son's lumbar being kyphosis. I will ask for the notes, but am getting confused in lumbar kyphosis, hypo lordosis, and even read excessive lordosis. His first surgeon consult did say that according to his side Xray, sagittal plane I guess, he is more of a "flat back". At the time I thought he was referring to just his Thoracic.

His left side/lumbar area does have hump, but that is rotation I thought.

From reading the net, it sounds like hypo lordosis can be address with exercise and is common for people who sit a lot. My son does all day at the computer, even with one of those fancy expensive chairs, he has bad/slouchy posture! I get on him all day about posture, but it is nearly impossible to correct.

So should we attempt to address this pre-opt with a PT?

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

I'm guessing the issue is structural rather than functional, so exercise (and "nagging" about posture) will probably not help. Lumbar kyphosis is relatively rare, by the way. Think I've only seen it a few times.

--Linda

[titaniumed]

Larger structural lumbar curves in males who are active like myself can be difficult to correct.....even in surgery.

They are like controlling the Mississippi river which is a powerful force.....

Small streams are much easier to correct.

Ed

[Pooka1]

Ti Ed,

I think his lumbar bent out straight with Dr. Hey. It is not structural although there seem to be issues with sagittal balance. But even so, Lenke and Hey both thought the lumbar can be saved.

[titaniumed]

Hi Sharon,

As far as exercise goes, that would be a question for a surgeon. I didn’t have any “corrective” results from exercising, even though exercising usually made me feel better. I did have a lower hump for many years, 34 to be exact, it was my spine just left of plumb at my waistline. My lumbar curve at age 16 was 50 degrees.

From a surgical standpoint, now with 5 consults, there should be enough information to come to a conclusion....

I have not been following too closely due to my own problems, Tampa Mom, in a nutshell, what do you think now after a few months?

If you are indecisive, that’s ok....

Ed

[jrnyc]

i was once told by a doctor...rheumatologist...and his daughter had scoli surgery with Dr Boachie...that structural problems in scoli were not helped
by...1. epidural injections and 2. exercise.
he mentioned muscles will get stronger, so that might help in some way,
and one might feel better...but that nothing with scoli that is structural
will be corrected or made better with exercise...
not saying it is impossible...just that i have found his statements to be
true in my own case...
and i believe my thoracic is hypokyphotic...if i have that correct...
i think it is flatback...never knew backs weren't supposed to be flat...
hah...
i do know the size of my curves kept increasing, exercise or no...

jess

[tampamom]

Surgeon confirmed that while it is rare, my sons lumbar does look to have kyphosis and he says we should wait until 6 months post opt to consider postural training if needed. Not to exercise it now.