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How did ancient Greek medicine define Lordosis? Do you know the history of the spine?
During the ancient Greek period, the definition and understanding of medicine had a profound impact on the development of the structure and function of the human body. In the discussion of spinal health, the origin of the term "Lordosis" reveals an important connection with human biomechanics.
The term Lordosis comes from the Greek word "lordos," meaning "to bend back." This term allows us to better understand the shape characteristics of the human spine, especially in the lower lumbar region. This normal incurvature is essential for humans to maintain balance and reduce energy expenditure when standing and walking.
Lordosis allows humans to better place their body's center of gravity on the pelvis. This feature improves the efficiency of walking. Compared with other vertebrates, this is a significant biological adaptation.
In the normal state of the human body, Lordosis can help maintain posture and assist the movement of the spine. However, excessive Lordosis, known as "excessive lumbar curvature," can sometimes lead to discomfort and chronic pain. This pathological condition is often related to muscle and structural imbalances, and some studies have shown that problems such as low back pain may occur because of force asymmetry between muscles.
Types of Lordosis
In understanding Lordosis, it is important to distinguish between its two main types—normal Lordosis and abnormal hyperlordosis.
Normal lumbar spine Lordosis
Normal Lordosis of the lumbar spine is a secondary curvature that may strengthen during adolescence. This change in strength is critical to adolescent development because many biological and environmental changes affect their body posture and skeletal development.
Lumbar hyperlordosis
Excessive lumbar curvature refers to an excessive curvature in the lower lumbar region, which may be caused by poor posture, lack of core muscle strength, or certain medical conditions.
Common symptoms of excessive lumbar curvature include lower back pain, loss of height, and discomfort during daily activities or dancing.
Causes of Lordosis
Although the development of Lordosis is influenced by a variety of factors, including genes, lifestyle, and posture, the root cause is often closely related to an imbalance in muscle strength. For example, physical changes during pregnancy, prolonged sitting, or improper exercise can affect the natural curvature of the human body and lead to changes in Lordosis.
Similarly, for dancers, if certain muscles are overused during practice without paying attention to balanced development, it may cause waist disease and further aggravate Lordosis.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing Lordosis requires a detailed physical examination and sometimes X-rays or MRIs to identify changes in the shape of the spine. Through these technological means, doctors can provide personalized treatment plans suitable for patients, including physical therapy, core muscle training and exercises called "cosmetic correction" to help patients restore proper spinal curvature.
Appropriate exercise and long-term postural adjustments are crucial, both for improving Lordosis problems and maintaining spinal health.
In some cases, if the patient's excessive curvature of the spine affects the quality of life, external help or surgical treatment may be required using corrective braces. In addition, maintaining good living habits, such as regular exercise and maintaining a correct sitting posture, can also help prevent the progression of Lordosis.
Looking back at the medical definition of ancient Greece and today’s understanding of Lordosis, we can’t help but think about how these changes in physiological structure affect our daily life and health?
