• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Lordosis

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Swayback

Home Care:

If the back is flexible, lordosis is usually not treated and will not progress or cause problems.

Call your health care provider if:

Call your health care provider if you notice that your child has an exaggerated posture or a curve in the back. The condition should be evaluated to determine if there is a medical problem.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. The child may be asked to bend forward, to the side, and to lie flat on a table so that the spine can be examined in a variety of positions.

Questions about the child's medical history will be asked, including:

• Time pattern
  • When did it you first notice the excessive curve?
  • Is it getting worse or more noticeable?
  • Is it ever better or worse than when examined by the health care provider?
• Quality
  • How would you describe the curve?
  • Does the amount of curve seem to change?
• Symptoms
  • What other symptoms are also present?

In some cases, particularly if the curve seems "fixed" (not bendable), the following or other diagnostic tests may be recommended:

• Spine x-ray
• Lumbosacral spine x-ray
• Other tests to rule out suspected disorders causing the condition

.

• Review Date: 5/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.