Lordosis is the inward curve of the lumbar spine (just above the buttocks). A small degree of lordosis is normal. Too much curving is called swayback.
Swayback; Arched back; Lordosis - lumbar
Lordosis tends to make the buttocks appear more prominent. Children with hyperlordosis will have a large space underneath the lower back when lying face up on a hard surface.
Some children have marked lordosis, but, most often fixes itself as the child grows. This is called benign juvenile lordosis.
Spondylolisthesis may cause lordosis. In this condition, a bone (vertebra) in the spine slips out of the proper position onto the bone below it. You may be born with this. It can develop after certain sports activities, such as gymnastics. It may develop along with arthritis in the spine.
Much less common causes in children include:
Most of the time, lordosis is not treated if the back is flexible. It is not likely to progress or cause problems.
Contact your health care provider if you notice that your child has an exaggerated posture or a curve in the back. Your provider must check to see if there is a medical problem.
The provider will do a physical exam. To examine the spine, your child may have to bend forward, to the side, and to lie flat on a table. If the lordotic curve is flexible (when the child bends forward the curve reverses itself), it is generally not a concern. If the curve does not move, medical evaluation and treatment are needed.
Other tests may be needed, particularly if the curve seems "fixed" (not bendable). These may include:
Munish Gupta is an Orthopedics expert in Saint Louis, Missouri. Gupta has been practicing medicine for over 37 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Lordosis. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Kyphosis, Scoliosis, Lordosis, Spinal Fusion, and Bone Graft. He is licensed to treat patients in Missouri. Gupta is currently accepting new patients.
Frank Schwab is an Orthopedics expert in New York, New York. Schwab has been practicing medicine for over 33 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Lordosis. He is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Kyphosis, Lordosis, Scoliosis, Spinal Fusion, and Laminectomy. He is licensed to treat patients in New York. Schwab is currently accepting new patients.
Themistocles Protopsaltis is an Orthopedics expert in New York, New York. Protopsaltis has been practicing medicine for over 22 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Lordosis. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Kyphosis, Lordosis, Scoliosis, Spinal Fusion, and Laminectomy. He is licensed to treat patients in New York. Protopsaltis is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: Nerve compression due to lumbar disc herniation and related radicular pain is a very common condition when the lifetime prevalence is considered. Lumbosacral radicular pain can be defined as pain originating from the lumbar level and spreading to the lower extremities along the distribution area of one or more spinal nerves. It is thought that the mechanical pressure of the disc material herniated...
Summary: In this study, it was aimed to look at the effect of rib cage and spine mobility on maximum breath holding time. To determine the relationship between spine and rib cage mobility level and respiratory capacity.
Published Date: February 24, 2022
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Mistovich RJ, Spiegel DA. The spine. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 699.
Warner WC, Sawyer JR. Scoliosis and kyphosis. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 44.