Since the back of the vertebra remains intact, the vertebra 'tips' forward and the spine becomes slightly misaligned and the section above the fracture tips … What is Dowager’s Hump? I looked the term up and it happens that a dowager is somebody like Violet Crawley — Lady Grantham in “Downton Abbey”. This is a metabolism-related skeletal disease that is also known as “bone loss”. A dowagers hump is an old and now unacceptable term for when the top of the back is severely rounded, giving the appearance of a hump on the … Dowager’s Hump is also referred to as postural kyphosis. What is a Dowager’s Hump? Dowagers humps (Kyphosis) are usually caused by wedge fractures. It is an enlarged prominence that is formed at the lower region of the neck. In this kind of fracture the front of a vertebra collapses. In this condition, the upper back is more than 45 degrees forward. This outward curvature of the upper back and compression of the front sections of the vertebrae cause a person to lean forward, slouching their shoulders and rounding their back, which in turn, creates a permanent hump on the upper back. Hump, dowager: An outward curvature of the vertebrae of neck, creating a hump at the back of the neck, once thought to be a characteristic deformity of older women. It is popularly known as kyphosis. Post-menopausal and elderly women are particularly affected. Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. A dowager was a woman of high social rank whose husband was dead but who had a title (such as duchess) and property because of her marriage to him. It is the uncommon curvature of the thoracic vertebrae of the upper part of the back in an outward direction. If left untreated can lead to more serious conditions such as breathing problems, digestive issues, and limited physical functions. The content provided is for informational purposes only. A dowager’s hump is usually caused by vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. Dowager’s hump, or postural kyphosis, is a condition that usually occurs due to slouching. Dowager’s Hump is not a term often used when I went through a Physical Therapy school. What is a Dowager’s hump? (1) The good news is, Dowager’s Hump can be corrected with rehabilitation, and some simple lifestyle and daily habit changes. Lady Grantham is formally known as Dowager Countess of Grantham, the widow of the Earl of Grantham. (2) Dowager’s Hump is a forward bending of the spine. Download a Free Guide to Home Care If not treated properly, it can lead to serious consequences such as hyperkyphosis and vertebral fractures. The term Dowager’s Hump is a more casual term for the medical condition referred to as kyphosis. 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