Too little lordosis can also occur, sometimes called flatback or hypolordosis.
Lordosis, even with too much or too little curvature, typically does not cause symptoms.
But if the curvature or flatness is severe, you may feel pain and need treatment.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Do I Have Lordosis?
A primary characteristic of lordosis is an inward curve of the cervical spine or lumbar spine.
With hyperlordosis, that curvature is even more exaggerated.
Additional characteristics may apply based on the location of the excessiveness of the curve.
That curvature might be excessive or running in the wrong direction.
A curve in the wrong direction is called a reverse cervical lordosis.
The curvature may also be pushed more to the right or left.
Symptoms of cervical lordosis may include:
Even without active symptoms, cervical lordosis can be dangerous.
Symptoms of lumbar spine lordosis may include:
Lordosis Treatment: Necessary or Not?
Treatment for lordosis depends on the extent of the curvature and whether there is pain or other symptoms.
This typically involves exercises, stretches, and practicing good posture.
Good Posture
Good posture is how you hold your body when moving, sitting, or standing.
It can help prevent injuries, pain, and other health problems.
The goal of good posture is a neutral spine.
Depending on the cause, you may be referred to physical therapy or a back specialist.
Apinched nerve, adamaged disk, orbone lossin the spine could cause lordosis.
These conditions require further evaluation and treatment to prevent spine and nerve complications.
The longer chronic back pain goes untreated, the harder it may become to manage.
Some causes will also put you at risk for spinal arthritis, herniated discs, and other painful conditions.
How Lordosis Develops
Lordotic changes can affect people of all ages.
Some people might have a higher risk for lordotic curve changes.
Bone and Spine Disorders
Several bone and spine disorders can lead to lordotic spine changes.
It can lead to lordosis of the lower back.
Lordosis can also occur after aspinal surgerythat makes the spine unstable.
These types of lordosis usually resolve as a child grows and develops stronger bones and muscles.
Lordosis might also be a sign of ahip dislocationdue to an injury or fall.
As the uterus grows, the body shifts its center of gravity.
The imbalance created between the lower back and abdominal muscles pushes the pelvis forward, creating lordosis.
Lordosis and back pain that occurs during pregnancy will typically resolve after childbirth.
A chiropractor can treat neck and back problems withspinal adjustmentsto maintain the spine’s alignment.
Research shows that chiropractic adjustments might improve cervical lordosis.
The child responded well to treatment and achieved complete symptom resolution.
Cervical lordosis was corrected to age-appropriate symmetry and remained there at the 17-month follow-up.
Your healthcare provider will examine your back and spine.
They will ask you when your pain started and how it is affecting you daily.
They may also request imaging, including X-rays, to confirm and assist in determining the diagnosis.
These could be signs of severe spinal cord problems.
Saddle anesthesia is a symptom of a very serious condition calledcauda equina syndrome (CES).
CES causes nerve root compression in the lower spinal cord.
It requires emergency treatment to prevent permanent paralysis.
Summary
Lordosis refers to a forward curve in the spine in the neck or lower back.
The curvature can either be excessive (hyperlordosis) or less than normal (hypolordosis).
Lordosis becomes excessive if the spine curves too much, pushing the posture out of its normal alignment.
For most people, lordosis does not cause symptoms or require treatment.
For others, it may cause pain.
Children with lordosis may outgrow the condition.
Lumbar lordosis also puts extra space in the lower back, which is seen when lying down.
Symptomatic lordosis or a lordotic curve that extends further than usual or causes a rigid spine needs treatment.
Posture exercises might help correct the lordotic curve.
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