A neck hump, also known as kyphosis or dowager’s hump, not only impacts your appearance but can also affect your posture and overall health. It affects between 20% and 40% of the elderly adults. Today, we’ll take a closer look at neck humps and how chiropractic treatment can help resolve the condition, whether it’s caused by spinal misalignment, poor posture, or other factors.
What Is a Neck Hump and What Causes It?
A neck hump, medically known as kyphosis, is a forward curve of the upper spine that creates a noticeable bump at the base of the neck. It can result from poor posture, where the head projects too far forward from its natural axis, or from conditions such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Over time, untreated misalignment can lead to a “dowager’s hump,” putting pressure on blood vessels and nerves, potentially causing discomfort.
How Poor Posture Contributes to Neck Hump Formation
The primary cause of a neck hump is poor posture. Sitting or standing with a slouched posture, especially when your head is flexed forward, places strain on the muscles around the cervical spine. Over time, this posture can lead to forward bending of the spine, which contributes to the formation of a neck hump.
Forward head posture, commonly referred to as “text neck,” places excessive strain on the cervical spine, leading to spinal misalignment and neck hump development.
Symptoms of a Neck Hump
Symptoms of a neck hump extend beyond the visible bump. People with this condition often experience upper back, neck, or shoulder pain due to muscle strain. They may also notice stiffness in the neck, limited range of motion, and, in some cases, headaches or numbness in the arms if nerve pathways are affected.
Can Chiropractic Care Help Fix a Neck Hump?
Chiropractic care is a highly effective treatment for addressing a neck hump. Chiropractors specialize in spinal alignment and posture correction, targeting the root cause of your hump to provide long-term relief and correction.
Through spinal adjustments, a chiropractor can alleviate pressure on the cervical spine, correct posture, and enhance overall spinal function. These adjustments help reduce pain and discomfort while working toward eliminating the hump over time.
The Role of Spinal Alignment in Neck Hump Correction
Maintaining proper spinal alignment is essential for balancing your body’s weight and supporting spinal health. When the spine is misaligned, pressure points can become imbalanced, leading to conditions like kyphosis. Chiropractic adjustments restore the spine’s natural curvature, reducing the appearance of a neck hump and improving posture.
Chiropractic Adjustments for Neck Hump Treatment
Chiropractors like us at Atlus Spine Clinic use a variety of techniques to treat neck humps, including cervical adjustments to realign the vertebrae in the neck and thoracic spine adjustments targeting the upper back. These adjustments help restore the natural curve of the spine and relieve pressure from the cervical spine.
In addition to spinal adjustments, chiropractors may recommend exercises and stretches that reinforce the muscles supporting the spine.
Home Exercises to Support Neck Hump Correction
While chiropractic care is essential, performing prescribed exercises at home can further improve your condition. Strengthening the muscles of the upper back and neck is key to preventing and reducing the forward curvature of the spine. Exercises like shoulder blade squeezes and chest openers can relieve tension and support the adjustments made during chiropractic sessions.
By incorporating these exercises into your daily routine, you’ll enhance your chiropractic treatment and work toward better spinal health.
