Kyphosis is a condidition where the back appears rounded, looking at it from the side (saggital plane). A normal cobb angle measurement of the thoracic spine in the saggital plane is 0-45﮿. Anything above 45﮿ is considered to be a kyphosis or hyperkyphosis.
Kyphosis can be postural or structural. Postural kyphosis can be improved when the patient consciously corrects their posture. Scheuermann’s disease, however, is structural and is the most severe form of kyphosis due to vertebral deformation. In Scheuermann’s disease the front of the vertebrae doesn’t grow as fast as the back, thus causing anterior (front) wedging of the vertebrae. This is more common in the thoracic spin than in the lumber. Patients with Scheuermann’s disease often present with a hyperlordosis (or sway back) and cervical hyperlordosis with forward head posture. Many often have tight hamstrings.
