What pain does kyphosis cause?
Isabella Ramos
Updated on March 03, 2026
Back pain can be particularly problematic in adults with kyphosis because the body has to compensate for the spinal abnormality. If you have severe kyphosis, your symptoms may get worse over time. You may also have difficulty breathing and eating.
How do you get rid of kyphosis pain?
Mild kyphosis
- Over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, can help relieve any back pain.
- Regular exercise and a course of physiotherapy may be recommended to help strengthen the muscles in your back.
Can kyphosis cause shoulder pain?
The review found a moderate level of evidence of no association between increased thoracic kyphosis and shoulder pain. This conclusion was based on six studies which reported very similar degrees of thoracic kyphosis in groups of people with and without shoulder pain.
Can kyphosis cause chest pain?
Some symptoms of kyphosis are: A visible hump on the back. Back pain, ranging from mild to severe, especially as the body compensates for the excessive bend. Chest pain and heart failure.
What organs are affected by kyphosis?
Severe cases of kyphosis can affect the nerves, lungs, organs, and tissue with pain and other issues. In very severe cases, the spine can cause the rib cage to press against the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Is thoracic spine posture associated with shoulder pain?
There is a strong level of evidence that maximum shoulder ROM is greater in erect postures compared to slouched postures (p < 0.001), in people with and without shoulder pain. Conclusions: Thoracic kyphosis may not be an important contributor to the development of shoulder pain.
What organs does kyphosis affect?
Severe cases of kyphosis can affect the nerves, lungs, organs, and tissue with pain and other issues. In very severe cases, the spine can cause the rib cage to press against the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The extent of effects caused by kyphosis depends on the underlying condition and age.
What muscles are weak in kyphosis?
What causes Kyphosis?
- An imbalance of muscles in the upper back and neck.
- The pectoralis major and minor muscles and the muscles in the back of the neck are shortened and tight.
- The muscles at the back of the shoulders and upper back (trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and rhomboids) are weakened and stretched.
Can kyphosis cause rib pain?
Can You reverse kyphotic posture?
The good news about postural kyphosis is that in most cases it can be reversed. You want to fix it as early on as possible because the longer you have it, the harder it is to fix, and the more problems it can cause. To fix your posture, you need to take a multi-pronged approach (the video above has a good overview of all these steps).
What to know about kyphosis?
What you Need to Know About Kyphosis. Kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann’s disease when it occurs in adolescents, is a forward curve of the spine. This curvature lends the person with the condition a hunchback appearance. Aside from the distinctive look that kyphosis lends the patient, it can cause moderate to severe back pain.
Can kyphosis cause breathing problems?
Most of the time, kyphosis doesn’t cause any problems and you don’t need to treat it. Sometimes it’s not even noticeable. Rarely, the curve can be severe enough to cause pain or affect your breathing. If the curve gets worse, hurts, or makes you uncomfortable with your appearance, your doctor can fix it.