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Dowager’s Hump Brace
Dowager’s Hump Brace: Dowager’s hump is a bump-like posture that is also called hunchback. Our back provides support and posture to our body and facilitates movement. Kyphosis is the medical term commonly associated with a dowager’s neck hump. This is a round-like structure that appears explicitly at the base of your neck. It is mainly caused by chronic forward-leaning posture.
Causes Of Dowager’s Neck Hump
Wrong posture is one of the prominent causes of Dowager’s Hump, but it is certainly not the only cause. Other possible causes include osteoporosis, a congenital problem, and Scheuermann’s kyphosis. No matter the underlying cause, Dowager’s Hump can occur due to weakening of the muscles around your thoracic spine.
Maintaining good bone and joint health is also important for supporting the spine and maintaining mobility as you age.
The most common factors are:
- Lack of exercise and poor proprioception: A prolonged lack of exercise and poor body awareness over the years can contribute to the development of a dowager’s hump.
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a significant factor in a dowager’s hump. As the disease progresses, bone density decreases with age, leading to weaker and more brittle bones.
- Physically intense activity and stooped posture: Long periods of physically intense activity, as well as a stooped posture, may contribute to poor spinal alignment. This may occur in people such as welders or manual laborers.
- Bad posture: Poor posture resulting from weak back muscles can contribute to excessive rounding of the upper back.
- Being overweight: Excess body weight can place additional stress on the spine and may contribute to postural problems.
- Ageing: Progressing age and long-term wear and tear can contribute to changes in the spine and surrounding muscles.
Dowager’s Hump Symptoms
A dowager’s hump is associated with excessive thoracic spine kyphosis, and the most prominent symptom is a rounded back, as the upper back and shoulders develop a forward-leaning posture.
As the spine works with the brain and forms part of the central nervous system, changes in spinal alignment can sometimes be associated with discomfort or other physical problems. Depending on the degree of spinal involvement, in addition to a rounded back appearance, a dowager’s hump can cause additional symptoms:
- Shallow breathing
- Problems with breathing
- Pelvic floor problems
- Rotator cuff problems
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Neck problems
- Jaw problems
- Pain and discomfort
How to Get Rid of Dowager’s Hump
A manual physical therapist, meaning a therapist who uses hands-on techniques, can use several treatment options to help manage a Dowager’s Hump and improve posture. These may include:
- Myofascial release
- Specific mobilization or movements of vertebrae that have become stiff over time
- Posture and strengthening exercises to help improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles supporting the spine
If pain or inflammation is present, a healthcare professional may recommend appropriate treatment based on the underlying cause. Anti-inflammatory treatment may sometimes be used to help manage pain or inflammation when medically appropriate.
Treatment should be based on the underlying cause and severity of the spinal curvature. A healthcare professional or physical therapist can recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Conclusion
Basically, it is important to understand that a Dowager’s Hump will not usually go away overnight. It can take time to improve posture and spinal alignment through appropriate exercises, physical therapy, and other treatments recommended by a healthcare professional.
Following the recommended treatment plan regularly and maintaining good posture and physical activity can help support long-term spinal health.
