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Lordosis (commonly referred to as swayback, saddle back, or hyper-lordosis) is a medical term used to describe an inward curvature of a portion of the vertebral column
Vertebral column

In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column of 24 vertebrae, the sacrum, intervertebral discs, and the coccyx situated in the dorsum aspect of the torso, separated by spinal discs....
. Two segments of the vertebral column, namely cervical and lumbar, are normally lordotic, that is, they are set in a curve that has its convexity anteriorly
Human anatomical terms

Human anatomical terms make up a distinct Scientific classification to describe areas of the body, to provide orientation when describing parts of human anatomy, and to distinguish different movements of the body....
 (the front) and concavity posteriorly
Human anatomical terms

Human anatomical terms make up a distinct Scientific classification to describe areas of the body, to provide orientation when describing parts of human anatomy, and to distinguish different movements of the body....
 (behind), in the context of human anatomy.






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Lordosis (commonly referred to as swayback, saddle back, or hyper-lordosis) is a medical term used to describe an inward curvature of a portion of the vertebral column
Vertebral column

In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column of 24 vertebrae, the sacrum, intervertebral discs, and the coccyx situated in the dorsum aspect of the torso, separated by spinal discs....
. Two segments of the vertebral column, namely cervical and lumbar, are normally lordotic, that is, they are set in a curve that has its convexity anteriorly
Human anatomical terms

Human anatomical terms make up a distinct Scientific classification to describe areas of the body, to provide orientation when describing parts of human anatomy, and to distinguish different movements of the body....
 (the front) and concavity posteriorly
Human anatomical terms

Human anatomical terms make up a distinct Scientific classification to describe areas of the body, to provide orientation when describing parts of human anatomy, and to distinguish different movements of the body....
 (behind), in the context of human anatomy. When referring to the anatomy of other mammals, the direction of the curve is termed ventral. Curvature in the opposite direction, that is, apex posteriorly (humans) or dorsally (mammals) is termed kyphosis
Kyphosis

Kyphosis also called "hunch back" or "hunchbackism" or "hunchbackedness", in general terms, is a common condition of a curvature of the upper spine ....
. Some animals (notably horse
Horse

The horse is a hoofed mammal, a subspecies of one of seven extant species of the family Equidae. The horse has evolution of the horse over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, odd-toed ungulate animal of today....
s) have naturally concave, lordotic backs.

Cause

Lordotic curvatures of the vertebral column, also known as secondary curvatures are caused mainly because of the difference of thickness between the anterior and posterior part of the intervertebral disc
Intervertebral disc

Intervertebral discs lie between adjacent vertebra in the vertebral column. Each disc forms a cartilaginous joint to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, and acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together....
. It can also worsen through puberty sometimes not becoming evident until the early or mid-20s. Imbalances in muscle strength and length are also a cause, such as weak hamstrings, or tight hip flexors.

Excessive lordotic curvature is also called hollow back, saddle back, and swayback. Common causes of excessive lordosis including tight low back
Human back

The human back is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. It is the surface opposite to the chest, its height being defined by the vertebral column and its breadth being supported by the ribcage and shoulders....
 muscles, excessive visceral fat, and pregnancy. Although lordosis gives an impression of a stronger back, ironically it can lead to moderate to severe lower back pain. Loss of lordosis is sometimes seen with painful spinal conditions. If rigid, usually after spinal fusion surgery, it is known as flat-back.

The familiar overly-concave shape of the horse's back is, by extension, described as lordotic (hence the nickname "saddle back").

Treatment

Lordosis of the lower back may be treated by strengthening the abdominal muscles and hamstrings. Back hyper-extensions on a Roman chair or inflatable ball will strengthen the back muscles. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers may be taken as directed for short-term relief. Physical therapy effectively treats 70% of back pain cases due to scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis and bad posture.

Other

Lordosis behavior
Lordosis behavior

Lordosis behavior, or Mammalian lordosis, is a sexual response in mammals, such as mouse and cats, that consists of a ventral arching of the vertebral column....
 refers to the position that some mammalian females (including humans, cats, mice, and rats) display when they are ready to mate ("in heat").

Footnotes


See also

  • Lordosis behavior
    Lordosis behavior

    Lordosis behavior, or Mammalian lordosis, is a sexual response in mammals, such as mouse and cats, that consists of a ventral arching of the vertebral column....
  • Kyphosis
    Kyphosis

    Kyphosis also called "hunch back" or "hunchbackism" or "hunchbackedness", in general terms, is a common condition of a curvature of the upper spine ....
  • Scoliosis
    Scoliosis

    Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's Vertebral column is curved from side to side, shaped like a "s", and may also be rotated....
  • Hyperkyphosis
    Hyperkyphosis

    Hyperkyphosis, colloquially called ?dowager?s hump,? refers to excessive kyphosis, or anteriorly concave, curvature of the thoracic region of the spine....
  • Kyphoscoliosis
    Kyphoscoliosis

    Kyphoscoliosis describes an abnormal curvature of the spine in both a coronal plane and sagittal plane. It is a combination of kyphosis and scoliosis....
  • Pott's disease
    Pott's disease

    Pott disease is a presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that affects the spine, a kind of tuberculous arthritis of the intervertebral joints....


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