dowager's hump


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hump

 [hump]
a rounded eminence; called also gibbus.
dowager's hump popular name for dorsal kyphosis caused by multiple wedge fractures of the thoracic vertebrae seen in osteoporosis.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

dowager's hump

(dou′ə-jərz)
n.
An abnormal curvature of the spine that is primarily manifested as a rounded hump in the upper back and that typically affects older women. The curvature is the result of collapse of the spinal column caused by osteoporosis.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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But if you do notice this layer of tissue forming, whether people start to urge you to stand up straight or you can feel the area by rubbing your neck, it's not too late to take steps to keep the dowager's hump from progressing.
How to prevent a dowager's hump--and what to do if you already have one
To prevent Dowager's hump, do these exercises daily.
Attend to posture and body mechanics to prevent dowager's hump: avoid hunching forward and use proper body mechanics to prevent curvature of the spine in your upper back
DOWAGER'S HUMP This debilitating condition is a side-effect of brittle bones (osteoporosis).
What is it?
Vertebral fractures can cause back pain, height loss, the development of hyperkyphosis (also known as Dowager's hump), a loss of function, and an increased risk for future osteoporotic fractures.
What to do if you suffer a fracture: prevention is key, but some fractures are unavoidable. Learn how you can improve your odds of having a healthy recovery
The curl of her dowager's hump was so pronounced, her head seemed to be attached to the front of her throat."
The Book of Beasts
I have a dowager's hump. My husband thinks I could just straighten up my back, but I can't do it.
Know your bones
It's a disease that's been tagged as the silent killer and years ago more cruelly as the dowager's hump. The condition of osteoporosis is almost unique in that victims will experience few if any obvious symptoms.
'I thought my bones would start to break'
POSTURE Sitting up straight can prevent the development of dowager's hump, also known as hunch back.
Best exercises for osteoporosis
The OsteoBall uses resistance training to stimulate formation of stronger bone, helps prevent "dowager's hump," improves your posture, and strengthens muscles.
These exercises can prevent and even reverse osteoporosis
It also leads to loss of height and curvature of the spine known as "Dowager's Hump".
Health: Getting down to the bare bones; Don't let your skeleton be a pain. There are now many ways to ward off osteoporosis, says Ros Dodd
Crumbling of the bones in the spine can also cause a marked loss of height and a disfiguring stoop (dowager's hump).
I'm terrified I've got the sex disease that has no cure; Dr Mark Porter, TV's top GP, answers your health problems
They are responsible for the condition commonly called "dowager's hump," or kyphosis, in which a person's back becomes hunched over.
Chest x-rays can help identify fractures in patients with heart conditions: vertebral fractures are often asymptomatic, and their detection warrants an evaluation of bone density

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