What Causes Lumbar Lordosis?

Lumbar lordosis is an issue that affects the curvature of the spine. The natural shape of an individual's spine generally appears like the letter "S" and extends from the neck down to the lower back. The curves in the spine are hugely beneficial for supporting the weight of the head, absorbing shock, maintaining flexible movements, and stabilizing the body's structure. When these curves arch inwards too far, it's likely individuals are suffering from lumbar lordosis. This particular condition affects the lower back along the lumbar portion of the spine. The inwards curvature of the spine will likely cause a substantial number of side effects to occur, which mainly include high amounts of discomfort and pain. Patients may be unable to move properly if the condition is left untreated. The treatment methods used for lumbar lordosis will depend on the severity of the curve. Surgery is only considered if neurological complications begin to develop. Uncover the causes of lumbar lordosis now.

Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that can occur within the shinbone, upper arm, or thighbone. This bone cancer is common among children and often occurs during adolescence when growth spurts take place. The increased risk of osteosarcoma during a growth spurt is largely due to the rapid growth of bones during this period. Such rapid growth means the development of tumors is more likely. The symptoms individuals experience when affected by osteosarcoma depends on the area of the body that's affected. Some of the more common signs that occur no matter the location include issues with joint motions, pain, possible fractures in bones, redness, and swelling. The way in which this pain occurs can also vary from individual to individual. For instance, some children with osteosarcoma may only experience a dull aching pain, whereas others may notice a sharp pain when they're sleeping. It's important to understand the symptoms of osteosarcoma can appear similar to standard growing pains, which is why it's important to look for other symptoms. The presence of this cancer in the thighbone may cause lumbar lordosis.

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Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a spinal issue that occurs when a lower vertebra slips onto a bone situated below it. This condition is very easy to notice because it will likely cause a sharp pain to develop in the body. If the issue is severe enough, patients may find it difficult to perform everyday activities. Since this condition is centered around the lumbar portion of the spine, it's likely that you'll experience at least a mild case of lumbar lordosis. Common symptoms of spondylolisthesis include thigh pain, pain and tenderness in the lower back that doesn't go away, tight hamstring muscles, and stiffness in the legs and back. Spondylolisthesis can develop in individuals of all ages and is particularly common among individuals who play sports like track and field, weightlifting, and football. Some non-surgical treatments used before surgery include performing physical therapy exercises, taking epidural steroid injections, and wearing a back brace to relax the muscles in the area.

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Obesity

Obesity is an extremely common problem in the United States that occurs when an individual becomes excessively overweight. The presence of this condition automatically heightens an individual's risk of suffering from such disease as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. This problem also places undue amounts of weight on the spine and can cause the problematic curvature of lumbar lordosis to occur. Individuals don't need to lose a large amount of weight to get rid of some of these complications. Even modest amounts of weight loss should lessen their risk of suffering from all of the health conditions related to this disorder. The best treatment methods for obesity including eating a healthy and balanced diet while also exercising regularly. Caloric intake can play a large part in how much weight an individual loses. An unhealthy diet, inactivity, and genetics are just a few of the risk factors that can increase someone's chances of becoming obese.

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Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia is a very common form of dwarfism displayed by having short limbs along with a normal-sized torso. This type of dwarfism, which forms during fetal development, is found in around one out of every twenty-five thousand births. It's at this point in time when a lot of cartilage in the fetus is supposed to convert into bone. In fact, most of the cartilage will do so in normal circumstances. This condition occurs when most of the cartilage doesn't convert directly to bone like it's supposed to. In the majority of cases, achondroplasia isn't inherited. The symptoms of this form of dwarfism are all physical as opposed to mental, and a short stature almost always occurs. The arms, legs, and fingers will likely be short as well. The forehead may be particularly large and prominent, while a decreased muscle tone is also common. These growth issues can cause lumbar lordosis to develop.

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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a type of bone disease that leads to losing a certain amount of bone density. The loss of this bone density can heighten an individual's risk of bone fractures. The interior of bones is comprised of tiny spaces that can make the bone appear like a honeycomb when placed under the microscope. This disease occurs when these tiny spaces expand to be larger than they are supposed to. The exterior of the bone may also become thinner and more delicate. Osteoporosis is particularly common among older individuals, but can occur at any age. Individuals with this condition are likely to experience receding gums, brittle nails, and poor grip strength. Osteoporosis can worsen over time, which is why treatment is absolutely necessary once detected. The weakened nature of the bones in osteoporosis can heighten the risk of lumbar lordosis.