It is well established that Scheuermann's disease is caused by the development of wedged vertebrae and therefore, the structure of the vertebrae can not be improved once someone has stopped growing. But it is also well established that Scheuermann's disease is a progressive disease that becomes worse over time. So if the structure can get worse, why isn't it also possible for it to improve?
I was recently thinking about this as well! I came across "Wolff's Law" which states that bone structure will adapt to the loads under which it is placed. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading. Think about this, professional Tennis players get larger arms and even hands on their dominant playing side, or Muay Thai fighters which are known for their indestructable shins. So it got me thinking that, if we are able to fix the curve and change the load that the wedged vertebrae could remodel itself back.
I have been asking this question to a few experts and have not gotten many clear answers. I imagined this question might depend on disc degeneration, but I am also not satisfied with that answer. I think your answer offers a good direction. However, previously I imagined that we would need a force to pull / decompress the anterior side of wedged vertebrae, but your answer suggests that we actually want to add force to compress the anterior part of the wedged vertebrae. Furthermore, bone spurs grow on that anterior side, so maybe that is the body trying to remodel its-self, but maybe this means it is difficult for the bone to grow up and down and easier to form bone spurs in the anterior direction? One more though: some targeted weight lifting exercises might be able to add load to the anterior side of wedged vertebrae. I wonder what kind of exercises might do this?
@@judochemistry When I got the diagnose I went to an orthopedist who literally told me "I have the same condition, it sucks, but you cannot do anything about it, you just have to live with it". :D He didn't even give me any tips on how to give myself relieve at home with exercise or so. This "medical expert" who suffers from the same condition seems to have no interest in finding a way to combat his own suffering. I recently came up with this idea or theory ... Bones that receive micro fractures through trauma (such as the tennis players) coupled with high levels of human growth hormones and then stretching can grow in length. Maybe this is far fetched but I believe that is why basketball players are so tall. They jump a lot which causes micro trauma in the bones, they sprint frequently which increases HGH levels, and they reach up and hang on the rim which stretches their whole body. So I am looking into incorporating sprinting, then jumping and finally hanging upside down with gravity boots into my exercise routine. Even though it is not really targeted, I do think the upside down hanging can put an opposite, more posterior load on the spine, much like you mentioned. Another huuuge thing that I discovered recently is the connection between the bite and our posture. I found out that I have a type of cranial distortion which causes a diffence in dental height on one side of my jaw. When biting the right side of my jaw has more dental contact an exerts more force. This causes a massive imbalance in tension in my muscles and connective tissue which lead to a postural and then in turn structural change in my entire body from top to bottom > the head is pulled to one side > one side of shoulders is higher than the other, one side of the hips is higher, one knee is weaker, one ankle collapses frequently. To combat this difference in dental height I made a splint from polymorp which sits on my lower jaw. When biting or swallowing it brings the forces into "equilibrium". I can immediately feel a sense of relief when putting it in. The tension in my neck and back, decreases gradually, even in muscles in the area around my wedged vertebrae. Also proper tongue posture (mewing) helped in "feeling less severity in my back". If you are interested in this here is a link to a blog which explains this exact phenomenon tooth-for-a-tooth.com/starecta/posture_bite/ I highly recommend looking at this blog in its entirety as it is a rare gem of knowledge on biomechanics and postural health.
I was wondering the same and I suppose that it could be theoretically doable but will require a full commitment every day practicing some hours of exercise and putting a brace the rest of the time in order mantain the correct posture (which is impossible otherwise) An hard journey only for those really stoic and determined...but in my opinion this should be the first suggested option for everyone with Scheuermann, instead is really hard to find information about non-surgical approach on Scheuermann and I find it disconcerning since the incidence is about 5% of the population
I’m 16 and 6’2”, i go to the gym frequently and do exercises occasionally from my previous physio which don’t seem to help too much. I have been diagnosed with scheuermann’s kyphosis and I think part of the reason was because when I had appendicitis I always hunched over before and after the surgery for months because it reduced the pain, I don’t think it’s the cause of it but it’s definitely worsened them. Do you have any recommended exercises I can do at home to relieve the pain or help improve it? The chiropractor is apparently useless according to my doctor and the physio is far too expensive so going to them is a no go
I would look for someone who is familiar with kyphosis. I have other videos on our channel about kyphosis so feel free to check those out. I hope to have an online program in the near future.
It is well established that Scheuermann's disease is caused by the development of wedged vertebrae and therefore, the structure of the vertebrae can not be improved once someone has stopped growing. But it is also well established that Scheuermann's disease is a progressive disease that becomes worse over time. So if the structure can get worse, why isn't it also possible for it to improve?
I was recently thinking about this as well! I came across "Wolff's Law" which states that bone structure will adapt to the loads under which it is placed. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading. Think about this, professional Tennis players get larger arms and even hands on their dominant playing side, or Muay Thai fighters which are known for their indestructable shins. So it got me thinking that, if we are able to fix the curve and change the load that the wedged vertebrae could remodel itself back.
I have been asking this question to a few experts and have not gotten many clear answers. I imagined this question might depend on disc degeneration, but I am also not satisfied with that answer. I think your answer offers a good direction.
However, previously I imagined that we would need a force to pull / decompress the anterior side of wedged vertebrae, but your answer suggests that we actually want to add force to compress the anterior part of the wedged vertebrae.
Furthermore, bone spurs grow on that anterior side, so maybe that is the body trying to remodel its-self, but maybe this means it is difficult for the bone to grow up and down and easier to form bone spurs in the anterior direction?
One more though: some targeted weight lifting exercises might be able to add load to the anterior side of wedged vertebrae. I wonder what kind of exercises might do this?
@@judochemistry When I got the diagnose I went to an orthopedist who literally told me "I have the same condition, it sucks, but you cannot do anything about it, you just have to live with it". :D He didn't even give me any tips on how to give myself relieve at home with exercise or so. This "medical expert" who suffers from the same condition seems to have no interest in finding a way to combat his own suffering.
I recently came up with this idea or theory ... Bones that receive micro fractures through trauma (such as the tennis players) coupled with high levels of human growth hormones and then stretching can grow in length. Maybe this is far fetched but I believe that is why basketball players are so tall. They jump a lot which causes micro trauma in the bones, they sprint frequently which increases HGH levels, and they reach up and hang on the rim which stretches their whole body. So I am looking into incorporating sprinting, then jumping and finally hanging upside down with gravity boots into my exercise routine. Even though it is not really targeted, I do think the upside down hanging can put an opposite, more posterior load on the spine, much like you mentioned.
Another huuuge thing that I discovered recently is the connection between the bite and our posture. I found out that I have a type of cranial distortion which causes a diffence in dental height on one side of my jaw. When biting the right side of my jaw has more dental contact an exerts more force. This causes a massive imbalance in tension in my muscles and connective tissue which lead to a postural and then in turn structural change in my entire body from top to bottom > the head is pulled to one side > one side of shoulders is higher than the other, one side of the hips is higher, one knee is weaker, one ankle collapses frequently.
To combat this difference in dental height I made a splint from polymorp which sits on my lower jaw. When biting or swallowing it brings the forces into "equilibrium". I can immediately feel a sense of relief when putting it in. The tension in my neck and back, decreases gradually, even in muscles in the area around my wedged vertebrae.
Also proper tongue posture (mewing) helped in "feeling less severity in my back".
If you are interested in this here is a link to a blog which explains this exact phenomenon tooth-for-a-tooth.com/starecta/posture_bite/
I highly recommend looking at this blog in its entirety as it is a rare gem of knowledge on biomechanics and postural health.
I actually agree. With work and exercise specific to the kyphosis, it can be improved. Not fixed, but improved.
I was wondering the same and I suppose that it could be theoretically doable but will require a full commitment every day practicing some hours of exercise and putting a brace the rest of the time in order mantain the correct posture (which is impossible otherwise)
An hard journey only for those really stoic and determined...but in my opinion this should be the first suggested option for everyone with Scheuermann, instead is really hard to find information about non-surgical approach on Scheuermann and I find it disconcerning since the incidence is about 5% of the population
I’m 16 and 6’2”, i go to the gym frequently and do exercises occasionally from my previous physio which don’t seem to help too much. I have been diagnosed with scheuermann’s kyphosis and I think part of the reason was because when I had appendicitis I always hunched over before and after the surgery for months because it reduced the pain, I don’t think it’s the cause of it but it’s definitely worsened them. Do you have any recommended exercises I can do at home to relieve the pain or help improve it?
The chiropractor is apparently useless according to my doctor and the physio is far too expensive so going to them is a no go
I would look for someone who is familiar with kyphosis. I have other videos on our channel about kyphosis so feel free to check those out. I hope to have an online program in the near future.
How about cervical kyphosis
There are other things to do for cervical kyphosis.
Any tips for doing this at home without these bars.
Check out one of our other videos on using a strap and dowel on a door. Good luck!
Where are you all located
We are located in Lehi and St George, Utah!
@@AlignTherapyUtah Do you all offer anything online because I live in Tennessee
@@StonewallJackson1865 we will have something soon. Stay tuned!