If you are someone who has developed a very rounded upper back, known officially as a ‘hyperkyphosis’ , then this article is for you.
Generally as people age, their upper back (thoracic spine) tends to become more rounded, giving them a hunched or stooped posture, and sending their heads forwards. This can be caused by a number of different factors, including postural strains, muscle weakness, disc damage and osteoporosis. This exaggerated rounding, as well causing localised stiffness, can then contribute to problems both in the neck and the lower back.
In the neck, a rounded upper back points the head more downwards, which then requires the neck to compensate by arching up and back. This change can cause strain and stiffness at the base of the neck and tightness of the muscles and joints at the top of the neck. Upper back rounding can also lead to an increase in the low back curve (lumbar lordosis) as it tries to maintain balance and stability after the overall natural alignment of the spine is changed. This can then predispose the joints of the lumbar spine to irritation and injury.
When I see patients with neck and back pain, a rounded upper back is often part of the problem. As well as using massage, stretching, and joint mobilisation to free up the movement of the spine, I always like to take a more long-term approach to the problem - enter the back roller. I have repeatedly found with patients with a rounded upper back that using a back roller for just a few minutes every day can help keep their upper backs mobile and pain-free and can also reduce the pressure on their necks and lower backs. I recently had a patient from East Grinstead with back pain who improved dramatically after a couple of treatments and daily use of a roller and some simple upper back exercises.