Stooped Posture

Understanding what causes stooped posture​ is important for effective treatment and prevention. A stooped posture occurs for several overlapping reasons, and each has a cumulative effect on how your body aligns over time.

Normal age-related changes 

Normal age-related changes will almost always predispose you to a stooped position:

• Loss of bone density – vertebrae become fragile and prone to compression; 
• Loss of back muscle strength – reduced strength and endurance of back muscles; 
• Disc degeneration– spinal discs lose height and cushioning; 

Modern lifestyle factors  

Your daily habits also account for a large amount of your postural habits:

• Sitting for long periods – prolonged desk work
• Smart phone use – “text neck”, which causes the head position to shift forward; 
• Poor ergonomics – you might have an improperly set-up workstation 
• Sedentary lifestyle – not enough physical activity or exercise. 

Medical conditions  

Some health issues may also help expedite your stooped posture development: 

• Injury – A fracture of a vertebra can cause loss of curvature of the spine 
• Osteoporosis – weakened bones with a higher fracture risk; 
• Scheuermann’s kyphosis– a developmental spinal condition; 
• Arthritis – inflammation and stiff joints; 
• Parkinson’s disease – muscle rigidity from a disease state and slow movement into a forward position; 
• Muscle disorders – disorders of a muscle, like muscular dystrophy, polymyositis.
• Congenital kyphosis – If the bones in the spine do not form properly before birth, it can lead to kyphosis.