Help! I Have a Neck Hump

If you’re starting to notice a hump on the back of your neck, you’re probably not imagining things. The medical term for this hump is kyphosis, or a rounding of the upper back.

Just because you know what it is, though, doesn’t mean you like it. Fear not. Here at Full Orthopedics Urgent Care in North Miami Beach, Florida, our expert team can give you guidance on how to improve the appearance of your hump and reduce any neck pain the hump is causing.

Here’s what you need to know.

What causes a neck hump?

Also called a dowager’s hump, kyphosis is a curvature of your thoracic vertebrae in your upper back. This causes your shoulders and upper back to be rounded as your head juts forward, creating a hump at the base of your neck.

For every inch your head moves forward from its correct alignment, you add about 10 pounds of force to the load on your neck and spine. As this force increases over months and years, your spine curves forward even more. 

This is often caused by bad posture, brought on in many cases by leaning forward to look at computer screens and phones all day long. In more serious cases, it can also be caused by osteoporosis, compression fractures, or degeneration of your discs.

Left untreated, your head will continue to move forward, the muscles around your spine will weaken, and you’ll experience more pain in your shoulders, neck, and head.

How a neck hump is treated

Thankfully, treatments can help reverse the effects of kyphosis and reduce the appearance of your neck hump. One of the first (and most effective) steps you can take is to implement a series of daily stretches to strengthen your upper chest, back, and neck muscles, which help pull up your shoulders and head.

Three specific stretches that can help include chin tucks, shoulder blade squeezes, and pectoral stretches. (Yoga can help too!)

Other treatment options include back braces, which offer support while you work to improve your posture, and physical therapy, which can take your stretching to the next level with additional exercises designed to strengthen your muscles so you can more easily hold your head and neck in their correct position.

Over time, these treatments may help reduce your pain and the size of your hump. If you need to start your own treatment for a neck hump, we’re here to help. 

We operate on a walk-in basis, so there’s no need to schedule an appointment. You can just show up at 3142 Northeast 163rd Street and we’ll be happy to treat you! Or, you can call our office or check in online to let us know you’re coming.