The Hump On Your Back Is Killing You

Last Updated on Friday, 21 January 2011 01:04 Tuesday, 24 August 2010 03:52

Studies are now revealing how deadly forward head shift, thoracic kyphosis mentioned above (humpback),
and the loss of the curve in the lower back are linked to disease of all kinds as well as early mortality
(death).

Based on almost common sense alone, the Chiropractic profession took off in the 1990s. After all, the
nervous system controls all function and healing, and it’s housed by the spine. Taking care of your spine
just made sense. Then, in the last five years, research has rolled in on how the position of your spine will
determine organ health and longevity. Now research by highly-esteemed research hospitals like Cornell and
Johns Hopkins is showing the damaging effects of increase or loss of spinal curves.

COULD THAT HUMP ON YOUR BACK BE KILLING YOU?

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society -Volume 52 Issue 10 Page 1662 - October 2004 doi:10.1111/
j.1532-5415.2004.52458.x

Hyperkyphotic Posture Predicts Mortality in Older Community-Dwelling Men and Women: A
Prospective Study Deborah M. Kado, MD, MS*, Mei-Hua Huang, DrPH*, Arun S. Karlamangla, MD,
PhD*, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, MD+ and Gail A. Greendale, MD*

Objectives: To determine the association between hyperkyphotic posture and the rate of mortality and
cause-specific mortality in older persons.

Participants: Subjects were 1,353 participants from the Rancho Bernardo Study who had measurements of
kyphotic posture made at an osteoporosis visit between 1988 and 1991.

Measures: Kyphotic posture was measured as the number of 1.7-cm blocks that needed to be placed under
the participant’s head to achieve a neutral head position when lying supine on a radiology table.

Demographic and clinical characteristics and health behaviors were assessed at a clinic visit using standard
questionnaires. Participants were followed for an average of 4.2 years, with mortality and cause of death
confirmed using review of death certificates.

Results: Hyperkyphotic posture, defined as requiring one or more blocks under the occiput to achieve a
neutral head position while lying supine, was more common in men than women (44% in men, 22% of
women, P<.0001). In age and sex-adjusted analyses, persons with hyperkyphotic posture had a 1.44 greater
rate of mortality (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12-1.86, P=.005). In multiply-adjusted models, the
increased rate of death associated with hyperkyphotic posture remained significant (relative hazard=1.40,
95% CI=1.08-1.81, P=.012). In cause-specific mortality analyses, hyperkyphotic posture was specifically
associated with an increased rate of death due to atherosclerosis.

Conclusion: Older men and women with hyperkyphotic posture have higher mortality rates.

THE CHIROPRACTIC ADVANTAGE

Studies are now revealing how deadly forward head shift, thoracic kyphosis mentioned above (humpback),
and the loss of the curve in the lower back are linked to disease of all kinds as well as early mortality
(death).

Based on almost common sense alone, the Chiropractic profession took off in the 1990s. After all, the
nervous system controls all function and healing, and it’s housed by the spine. Taking care of your spine
just made sense. Then, in the last five years, research has rolled in on how the position of your spine will
determine organ health and longevity. Now research by highly-esteemed research hospitals like Cornell and
Johns Hopkins is showing the damaging effects of increase or loss of spinal curves.

They missed one thing: Chiropractors can correct these things and do it very easily with the technology
they possess today. If you’re not maintaining your spine, gravity is causing deadly kyphosis. If you or
anyone you care anything about is not making up for the physical, postural, and gravitational abuse your
spine gets every single day by seeing a Chiropractor on some sort of consistent basis, you’re just ignoring
what common sense and the science of today is telling you to do. Ignorance may seem like bliss now, but
with kyphosis, it won’t be bliss for long.

Absolute Life Chiropractic, INC PS
360-260-6903