r/kyphosis

I’ve been a physiotherapist for 15+ years and this is probably the most underexplained connection in desk worker health.

The mechanism, step by step:

1. FHP loads the cervical spine roughly 4.5 kg of additional force per centimetre of forward head drift. By midday, most desk workers are carrying the equivalent of a bowling ball on their neck.
   2. As FHP progresses, thoracic kyphosis increases, compressing the rib cage and reducing chest wall excursion.
   3. The diaphragm is tethered to the spine and lower ribs. Kyphosis limits its descent range directly.
   4. The body compensates with accessory breathing muscles — scalenes, SCM, upper traps which are already under sustained load from FHP.
   5. Result: shallow, thoracic-dominant breathing. This activates the sympathetic nervous system. Cortisol stays elevated.
   6. Elevated cortisol keeps jaw muscles braced, shoulders rolled forward, posture defaulting back to FHP. Loop complete.

The studies:
Dimitriadis et al., 2013 (J Phys Ther Sci) FHP subjects showed significantly reduced inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength
• Kim et al., 2015 (J Phys Ther Sci) diaphragm excursion measured by ultrasound significantly reduced in FHP vs corrected posture
• Kado et al., 2005 (J Am Geriatr Soc) thoracic kyphosis angle correlated with reduced FVC and FEV1
• J Clin Med systematic review 2024, 23% prevalence of awake bruxism, most unaware

Happy to answer any questions on the physio side of this. I do have a free guide at thebodyresetstudio.gumroad.com if anyone wants the full written protocol.

Brasileiro( traduza a página) Sou um adolescente de 17 anos, estou muito depressivo por conta da minha coluna, já tentei esquecer ela mas não consigo. Nunca fui ao médico porque não adianta ir, moro no Brasil e minha família é pobre. Não tenho condições de pagar um tratamento. Talvez esse seja meu último pedido de socorro, peço que se vc tem a oportunidade esforce se nessa vida.

Im 17 y.o. And i have kyphosis 68° degrees(sheer-man mau), what do you advise me to do? Should i do surgery? Or it better to live with this? I have pain if i seating or staying long, and i can’t breathe when i keep my back straight, of someone did surgery, did you have any complications? Pls tell me about your surgery

Has PT helped you at all? I've noticed some improvements in my body and health. My kyphosis seems to be structural so i know it cannot be fixed without surgery which is okay. Working on my core and lower back has helped me so much, it's been tough I will admit that for sure. Every now and then I get discouraged and stop doing it for a week. It's been like that this week, and I started back again today and felt good after, my neck is a bit stiff today but that's because I'm almost 40 and slept on the couch using the armrest as a pillow lol.

If you have tried PT in the past and didn't like it I would suggest switching to someone else. I did that and the person I'm with now is very positive, helpful and easy to deal with. She also knows how to communicate with me and break everything down, or explain stuff really well.

Keep up the good work, stay positive and fuck the haters! Hahaha

29 fm I’m 7 days post op i had 88 degree curve from SK, my t6-t12 was naturally fused so they had to remove my t10 along with 2 corresponding ribs, shave down my t9 and and crest wedges in other vertebrae for flex ability.

I know this is going to be a very long an mentally/ physically challenging recovery so I can use all the words of encouragements.

Hello everyone, figured I’d try to see what everyone’s experience has been like with this condition and if physical therapy has helped?
I’m 5’7, weigh 150 pounds and have been running for years. I also go to the gym and would consider myself healthy overall.
Two weeks ago I had this severe sudden pain that occurred on my mid / lower back after bending down to play with my doggo, went to the ER and orthopedic for MRI and was told I had this condition.
I was prescribed Diclofenac 75mg, advised to take twice a day. Pain has improved a lot with meds and I’m ITCHING to go out and run but my orthopedic suggested I wait until after physical therapy is finished.
Does physical therapy really help? Should I seek a second opinion with a different specialist?

Hi

Has anyone had experience (either professional or personal) experience of dealing with thoracic kyphosis caused by thoracic compression fractures?

I’m 46 yo male and had multiple fractures back in October 2022.

Life has been hell trying to recover and I’m left with:

- pain at t10/11 (endplates/disc/facet joints)
- pain at t5-8 (facet joints)
- everyday/every movement clicking and clunking
- muscle guarding all down my back.

An image from a recent spect scan attached (the t9/10 should be labelled t10/11…) and report extract below.

I’m desperate to find people who have had a similar journey or have experience of similar stories.

I’m due to see a pain management specialist next week but I’m at the end of my positive spirit and no one seems to have seen similar things before.

Thanks for your time.

—-

From spect report:

Reference made to the previous MRI (31 March 2026) and SPECT CT (7 December 2023) studies.

Misregistration artefact noted.

As demonstrated on the previous MRI study, multilevel degenerative change and insufficiency
fractures centred on the lower thoracic spine are again noted with associated mild scoliosis and
exaggerated lower thoracic kyphosis in the imaged position.

Again, the established endplate fractures are most notable from T8-T12, and remain most
pronounced at T11.

Secondary intervening degenerative disc/endplate changes with persistent uptake from T8 to T11.

Interval reduction in uptake at T9-10 when compared to the previous study

Uptake is most prominent posteriorly at T10-11 corresponding to the apex of the kyphotic deformity,
which has progressed when compared to the previous SPECT-CT study.

Prominent tracer avid facet arthropathy on the right at T4-5 and T5-6, which was not evident on the
previous SPECT-CT study. Elsewhere, there remains only low-grade facetal uptake.

At T10-11, the penumbra of posterior endplate uptake extends to encompass the adjacent T10-11
facets however, the epicentre remains centred on the adjacent vertebral endplates.

No significant tracer avid disc/endplate degeneration or facet arthropathy elsewhere.

Started gym 2 months ago, im 185cm (6’1”) x 70kg (154 lbs). I don’t have any pain. I also have scoliosis, its really noticeable looking at chest, I feel really bad about this when I watch my back in the mirror. Do you have any suggestions to improve ?