Kyphosis Causes: Understanding the Symptoms

Find out how to address kyphosis by looking at causes, symptoms, and effective treatment approaches to restore health.

What Is Kyphosis?

How often have you noticed that your posture is more hunched after sitting down for an excessive amount of time? Do you feel muscle strain in your neck and shoulders that stretching them causes temporary relief? Or do you feel pain and tightness in your back and shoulders from improper posture? Many times, individuals have dealt with musculoskeletal issues that can affect the three common areas of the body: neck, shoulders, and back. When a person is in a hunched position for an extended period, it can lead to a spinal condition known as kyphosis. Kyphosis is when there is an increase in the forward curvature of the spine that affects the thoracic location and may be caused by degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. (Lam & Mukhdomi, 2025) When a person is dealing with kyphosis, they will notice that they are developing a hunchback or a rounded upper back that can affect posture and overall musculoskeletal health. Depending on the severity of kyphosis, the symptoms can range from significant discomfort and stiffness to breathing difficulties. At the same time, understanding the environmental factors that contribute to its development as well as its associated symptoms can help many individuals find various treatment options to manage this spinal condition.

 

Environmental Factors Contributing to Kyphosis

Several environmental influences can lead to the development of kyphosis. This is because many people do strenuous activities that cause the spine to tackle heavy loads of weight. However, as the body ages, so does the spine over time, and that can lead to the development of kyphosis. Some environmental factors that contribute to kyphosis include:

• Poor Posture
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Heavy Objects & Improper Lifting
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal Injuries & Conditions

 

Kyphosis Symptoms & Its Effects on the Musculoskeletal System

Kyphosis can lead to a variety of musculoskeletal complications as it can affect the cervical and thoracic portions of the spine.  When kyphosis starts to affect the cervical area, it can cause referred neck pain that causes increased stress on the posterior soft tissues, causing the head to deal with mechanical imbalance, thus causing fatigue and muscle strain. (Ogura et al., 2021) At the same time, when kyphosis starts to affect the thoracic spine, some of the risk factors range from low bone density to lower extremity dysfunction in older adults, causing mobility impairment. (Lorbergs et al., 2017) Some of the other musculoskeletal issues associated with kyphosis include:

• Upper Back Pain & Stiffness
• Limited Mobility & Flexibility
• Referred Pain
• Muscle Fatigue & Weakness
• Breathing & Digestive Issues

 

---

Understanding Long-Lasting Injuries- Video

---

Treatment Approaches For Kyphosis

When it comes to finding treatments for managing the symptoms of kyphosis, many have opted for surgical treatments if the spinal curvature has become severe. However, many people have decided on nonsurgical therapies due to their cost-effectiveness and the fact that they are non-invasive. Nonsurgical treatments can come in a variety of forms as they aim to reduce kyphosis complications and improve a person’s posture. (Jenkins et al., 2021) When people start to incorporate nonsurgical treatments to reduce kyphosis from the cervical regions, they will have significant improvement in postural control and mobility. (Oakley et al., 2024)

 

Chiropractic Care & More

Chiropractic care is a form of non-invasive therapy that can help alleviate discomfort and improve spinal alignment in individuals with kyphosis. Chiropractic care incorporates spinal manipulation to realign the spine back to its original position while stretching and strengthening tight, weak muscles. Chiropractic care can help reduce overlapping risk profiles like headaches and neck pain associated with kyphosis by improving the neck’s range of motion, causing relief. (Norton et al., 2022) Additionally, chiropractors can develop a customized treatment plan for individuals with kyphosis while providing significant relief from the neck to the back to prevent a slouched posture. (Fortner et al., 2017) Some benefits chiropractic care can incorporate for individuals with kyphosis include:

• Spinal Adjustments – Help realign the vertebrae, reducing excessive curvature and improving posture.
• Postural Training – Chiropractors can provide exercises to strengthen back and core muscles for better support.
• Pain Management – Manual therapy and spinal decompression techniques can relieve muscle tension and reduce referred pain.
• Improved Mobility & Flexibility – Stretching and mobility exercises can enhance range of motion and prevent stiffness.

 

Additional Treatments For Kyphosis

Beyond chiropractic care, other strategies for managing kyphosis can help with improving spinal stability and prevent spinal curvature from becoming worse. These additional therapies include:

• Physical Therapy
• Bracing
• Postural Ergonomics

 

Final Thoughts

While kyphosis can be a source of pain and discomfort, early intervention and proper management can significantly improve quality of life. Whether through chiropractic care, physical therapy, or lifestyle modifications, addressing kyphosis proactively can lead to better posture, reduced pain, and enhanced mobility.

 

---

Injury Medical Chiropractic & Functional Medicine Clinic

We associate with certified medical providers who implement the importance of the causes and symptoms of kyphosis. While asking important questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to integrate small changes into their daily routine to reduce the effects of kyphosis from affecting the cervical and thoracic areas. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., envisions this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.

---

References

Fortner, M. O., Oakley, P. A., & Harrison, D. E. (2017). Treating ‘slouchy’ (hyperkyphosis) posture with chiropractic biophysics((R)): a case report utilizing a multimodal mirror image((R)) rehabilitation program. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 29(8), 1475-1480. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.29.1475

Jenkins, H. J., Downie, A. S., Fernandez, M., & Hancock, M. J. (2021). Decreasing thoracic hyperkyphosis – Which treatments are most effective? A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Musculoskelet Sci Pract, 56, 102438. doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102438

Lam, J. C., & Mukhdomi, T. (2025). Kyphosis. In StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32644371

Lorbergs, A. L., Murabito, J. M., Jarraya, M., Guermazi, A., Allaire, B. T., Yang, L., Kiel, D. P., Cupples, L. A., Bouxsein, M. L., Travison, T. G., & Samelson, E. J. (2017). Thoracic Kyphosis and Physical Function: The Framingham Study. J Am Geriatr Soc, 65(10), 2257-2264. doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15038

Norton, T. C., Oakley, P. A., & Harrison, D. E. (2022). Improving the cervical lordosis relieves neck pain and chronic headaches in a pediatric: a Chiropractic Biophysics((R)) (CBP((R))) case report with a 17-month follow-up. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 34(1), 71-75. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.34.71

Oakley, P. A., Gage, W. H., Harrison, D. E., & Mochizuki, G. (2024). Non-surgical reduction in thoracolumbar kyphosis and sagittal vertical axis corresponding with improved sensorimotor control in an older adult with spinal deformity: a Chiropractic Biophysics((R)) case report. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 36(11), 756-764. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.36.756

Ogura, Y., Dimar, J. R., Djurasovic, M., & Carreon, L. Y. (2021). Etiology and treatment of cervical kyphosis: state of the art review-a narrative review. J Spine Surg, 7(3), 422-433. doi.org/10.21037/jss-21-54

Disclaimer