Learn About Lordosis
Most of the time, lordosis is not treated if the back is flexible. It is not likely to progress or cause problems.
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:
- Lumbosacral spine x-ray
- Other tests to rule out disorders that could be causing the condition
- MRI of the spine
- Laboratory tests
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:
- Achondroplasia, a disorder of bone growth that causes the most common type of dwarfism
- Muscular dystrophy
- Other genetic conditions
Call 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.
NYC Health And Hospitals - Bellevue
Peter Passias is an Orthopedics doctor in New York, New York. Dr. Passias has been practicing medicine for over 18 years and is rated as an Elite doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Lordosis. He is also highly rated in 26 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Kyphosis, Scoliosis, Lordosis, and Cervical Spondylosis. He is board certified in Orthopedic Surgery and licensed to treat patients in Massachusetts.
Center For Advanced Medicine
Munish Gupta is an Orthopedics doctor in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Gupta has been practicing medicine for over 36 years and is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Lordosis. He is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Kyphosis, Scoliosis, Lordosis, and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. He is board certified in Orthopedic Surgery and licensed to treat patients in Missouri. Dr. Gupta is currently accepting new patients.
UPMC Presbyterian
David Okonkwo is a Neurosurgery doctor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Okonkwo has been practicing medicine for over 22 years and is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Lordosis. He is also highly rated in 18 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Subdural Hematoma, Scoliosis, Concussion, and Kyphosis. He is board certified in Neurosurgery and licensed to treat patients in Pennsylvania. Dr. Okonkwo is currently accepting new patients.
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, Canale ST, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 44.