Nonsurgical treatment of kyphosis.

An increase in thoracic kyphosis in children and adolescents is usually the result of postural kyphosis or Scheuermann's kyphosis. Although no structural deformity of the spine is observed in postural kyphosis, wedging of vertebral bodies and disk space narrowing are noted radiographically in patients with Scheuermann's kyphosis. Effective interventions for adolescents with postural kyphosis include exercises to relieve lower extremity contractures and strengthen abdominal musculature coupled with practiced normal posture in stance and in sitting. Skeletally immature patients with Scheuermann's kyphosis benefit from a similar exercise program but also require the use of a spinal orthosis. Bracing of the spine in patients with Scheuermann's kyphosis results in permanent correction of vertebral deformity, unlike bracing in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. The evaluation of children and adolescents with increased thoracic kyphosis is an important aspect of the decision process used to determine appropriate interventions.