It is an enlarged prominence that is formed at the lower region of the neck. 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 … (… it’s a protruding bone at base of neck!) Dowager's hump definition is - an abnormal outward curvature of the upper back with round shoulders and stooped posture caused especially by bone loss and anterior compression of … 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. In this condition, the upper back is more than 45 degrees forward. Lady Grantham is formally known as Dowager Countess of Grantham, the widow of the Earl of Grantham. What is a Dowager’s hump? (2) Dowager’s Hump is not a term often used when I went through a Physical Therapy school. Dowagers humps (Kyphosis) are usually caused by wedge fractures. (1) The good news is, Dowager’s Hump can be corrected with rehabilitation, and some simple lifestyle and daily habit changes. Dowager’s Hump is also referred to as postural kyphosis. If not treated properly, it can lead to serious consequences such as hyperkyphosis and vertebral fractures. If left untreated can lead to more serious conditions such as breathing problems, digestive issues, and limited physical functions. 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. This is a metabolism-related skeletal disease that is also known as “bone loss”. 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. What is a Dowager’s Hump? It is popularly known as kyphosis. Dowager’s hump, or postural kyphosis, is a condition that usually occurs due to slouching. The earlier colloquial expression therefore for the hunchback associated with the disease is “dowager’s hump”. Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. The term Dowager’s Hump is a more casual term for the medical condition referred to as kyphosis. Dowager’s Hump is a forward bending of the spine. In this kind of fracture the front of a vertebra collapses. What is Dowager’s Hump? Download a Free Guide to Home Care However, if you notice a small hump at the back of your neck in time, you can get rid of it completely by correcting muscular imbalances and changing some of your daily habits. 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