Kyphosis

DEFINITION: Exaggerated or extreme forward (ventral) bending usually of the thoracic spine. It is often caused by aging with poor posture, but may also be due to wedge fracture(s) of the front (anterior) portion of the vertebral body(ies), itself a frequent sequel to osteoporosis. BENEFICIAL POSES: Utkatasana with lumbar spine and back of head against a wall, Salabhasana, Uttana Padasana. EXPLANATION: Utkatasana with a wall prompts awareness of which muscles need to be coordinated for better posture. Salabhasana and Uttana Padasana strengthen the paraspinal muscles required to reduce kyphosis. REFERENCE: Greendale GA, Huang MH, Karlamangla AS, Seeger L, Crawford S.Yoga decreases kyphosis in senior women and men with adult-onset hyperkyphosis: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009 Sep;57(9):1569-79. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02391.x. Epub 2009 Jul 21.