Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.
Affecting up to 40% of older adults, hyperkyphosis, or rounded upper back, can impact daily life. Understanding **how do older adults compensate for kyphosis of the spine** is crucial for maintaining independence, managing pain, and improving overall quality of life.
Affecting approximately 1% of adults over 40 in the United States, Paget's disease disrupts the normal bone renewal process, which can lead to a variety of skeletal problems. In severe cases, the condition's impact on the spine is so significant that it can indeed cause kyphosis, an exaggerated forward curvature of the upper back. This occurs as weakened and enlarged vertebrae lead to compression fractures and structural instability.
A 2020 study on degenerative lumbar kyphoscoliosis revealed that while the scoliotic curve may stabilize after age 80, the kyphotic (forward-rounding) aspect of the curvature often accelerates with aging. This indicates that the answer to, “Does kyphoscoliosis get worse with age?” is a nuanced "yes", with different components of the spinal deformity progressing at varying rates and times.
