Get Rid of Dowager's Hump

Physical Therapist Margaret Martin demonstrates how to get rid of Dowager's Hump. She answers the question, what is a Dowager's Hump, identifies the causes, symptoms, pain, treatment, Dowager's Hump exercises, and sleeping positions for Dowager's Hump.

-Chapters-
0:00 Introduction
0:19 What is a Dowager's Hump?
1:04 Dowager's Hump and Osteoporosis, Spinal Fusion and Posture
1:48 Dowager's Hump Causes, Today
2:49 Why Improving Your Posture is Difficult Today
3:25 Dowager's Hump and Vertebral Compression Fractures
4:01 Other Medical Causes of Dowager's Hump
4:51 Summary of Dowager's Hump Causes
5:10 Margaret Demonstrates Poor Posture and Discusses Implications
8:39 Research Studies on Poor Posture
9:09 Dowager's Hump and Pain (from Poor Posture)
9:46 Should You Be Worried About Dowager's Hump?
9:53 How to Measure Your Posture - How Bad is Your Posture?
12:35 How to Use Your Score to Change your Posture
14:12 Dowager's Hump Treatment Options
15:29 Tips to Fix Your Dowager's Hump
18:53 Should You Use a Brace for Dowager's Hump and Your Posture?
20:42 Your Posture and Breast Size
22:15 Dowager's Hump and Your Pillow and Sleep Position
25:00 Dowager's Neck / Hump Exercises

DEFINITIONS
The “hump” part of the term refers to the pronounced kyphosis that you see many women (perhaps Dowagers) have. As the elderly woman’s posture deteriorated, a hump would develop on the back of their upper thoracic spine and became known as a Dowager’s Hump.

1./ Neck Hump or Buffalo Hump
You might also hear the terms neck hump or buffalo hump to describe a Dowager’s Hump. Don’t worry. They all refer to the same thing.

2./ Hyperkyphosis
The proper medical term for Dowager’s Hump is hyperkyphosis. Hyperkyphosis describes an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine. It is also known as hunchback. The accepted and current standard for the definition hyperkyphosis is a kyphosis angle in excess of 50 degrees.(1)

Dowager’s Hump not necessarily associated with osteoporosis or spinal fusion. But it is something that many, many people worry about from as young as 15 years old to as old as 115 years old. People are concerned about their posture — and rightfully so.

I tell clients who are worried about Dowager’s Hump, that they should be mostly just concerned about their posture. I instruct them on what to do to correct or optimize their posture and hopefully avoid Dowager’s Hump or, in the case where people have progressed too far, reverse Dowager’s Hump.

DOWAGER HUMP CAUSES

What causes Dowager’s Hump? There are three major causes.

1./ Poor Posture Habits
Today, Dowager’s Hump is a result of the poor posture caused by stooping over devices (such as the iPhone), slouching in front of computers, sitting in soft chairs, and our laissez-faire attitude in schools and at dinner tables.

These habits create significant challenges for you, and for us as Therapists, when you want to change and optimize your posture. This is because all of a sudden, the causes, which is just habitual slouching, become something that you need to habitually unlearn.

2./ Compression Fractures
In the population I serve, I will see women who have had multiple compression fractures of their vertebrae. When that happens, then the vertebrae become wedged. The vertebrae no longer has a flat edge on each end, but rather the front of the vertebrae takes on that wedge shape. That wedge encourages the spine to take on that deformity or the Dowager Hump shape.

There are a few other medical conditions that are associated with the dowager’s hump or the kyphotic posture but the major causes are poor posture and compression fracture.

3./ Scheuermann’s Disease
Scheuermann’s disease is a disease of the young that persists into adulthood. It develops in adolescence when the spine is growing. During this developmental period your spine fails to develop normally and you develop an exaggerated rounded mid or lower back (hunched back).

One third of people with Scheuermann’s disease also develop scoliosis. Pain is a symptom that often appears later in the disease process. Difficulty bending backwards (doing upward dog pose or sphinx pose) is another symptom.

If you suspect that you or a person you love may have Scheuermann’s disease, you should speak to your doctor. An X-ray will confirm the disease and Physiotherapy is recommended.

DOWAGER HUMP SYMPTOMS
How do you know if you have Dowager’s Hump and what are the Dowager Hump symptoms you should be concerned about? Dowager Hump symptoms include:

Shallow breathing.
Problems breathing.
Indigestion.
Pelvic floor problems.
Rotator cuff problems.
Tennis elbow.
Carpal tunnel.
Neck problems.
Jaw problems.
Headaches.


Medical Disclaimer
All the information, content, and material presented in this video is for informational purposes only. They are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.