{"id":8834,"date":"2026-03-31T03:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scolicare.com\/denver-colorado\/lordosis-explained-normal-vs-abnormal-spinal-curves\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:00:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:00:30","slug":"lordosis-explained-normal-vs-abnormal-spinal-curves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scolicare.com\/denver-colorado\/lordosis-explained-normal-vs-abnormal-spinal-curves\/","title":{"rendered":"Lordosis Explained: Normal vs. Abnormal Spinal Curves"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The spine\u2019s healthy curves are important; they make the spine stronger and less vulnerable to injury, more flexible with a wider range of motion, and better able to handle daily stress. The loss of a healthy spinal curvature can affect the spine and body in a number of ways.<\/p>\n

Lordosis<\/i><\/b> is an inward curve of the spine found in the neck and lower back. Too much lordosis is known as <\/b>hyper<\/i><\/b>lordosis, and too little lordosis is diagnosed as <\/b>hypo<\/i><\/b>lordosis. There is a natural variance in curve size from person to person, but if lordosis becomes over- or under-pronounced, the lordosis is considered atypical and may be problematic.<\/b><\/p>\n

As one long structure with three main sections, the health of each spinal section is connected.<\/p>\n

What is Lordosis?<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are healthy and unhealthy spinal curves.<\/p>\n

The spine is naturally curved at each of its main sections, but there are also unhealthy spinal curves that can develop when the size of a typical spinal curve increases or decreases significantly; this can disrupt the spine\u2019s balance and stability (1).<\/p>\n

The three main spinal sections include the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (middle\/upper back), and the lumbar spine, and each section has specific roles to play in maintaining overall spinal health function (1).<\/p>\n

Lordosis<\/i> refers to a spinal curvature type that curves inwards, so when viewed from either side, a lordotic curve will be C-shaped.<\/p>\n

Lordosis naturally occurs in the cervical and lumbar spinal sections.<\/p>\n

If the spine\u2019s vertebrae (bones) are aligned, its healthy curves are in place, but if one or more vertebral bodies shift out of alignment with the rest of the spine, the development of an unhealthy spinal curve can increase the risk of injury and become problematic (2).<\/p>\n

\"AThe vertebrae of the cervical spine connect the brain to the rest of the spine and body, they support the weight of the head, and facilitate a wide range of motion in the neck, but if the neck can\u2019t maintain its healthy curve (lordosis), its ability to function can be disrupted (3).<\/p>\n

The thoracic spine is the largest spinal section, and as the only section attached to the rib cage, it provides structural support, protects important organs, and facilitates the torso\u2019s range of motion.<\/p>\n

The thoracic spine has a curve that bends outwards, known as kyphosis<\/i>: the opposite curve type to lordosis (4).<\/p>\n

The vertebrae of the lumbar spine work the hardest. The lower back has to support the weight of the thoracic and cervical spinal sections above and the upper body; it facilitates the spine\u2019s alignment with the pelvis for healthy lower body movement, and it feels the effects of strenuous movement\/lifting heavy objects (5, 6).<\/p>\n

If the lower back loses its lordosis, pain and functional deficits may develop (5, 6).<\/p>\n

Now that we\u2019ve talked generally about lordosis, and the lordotic sections of the spine, let\u2019s talk about the difference between an increase<\/i> or decrease<\/i> in lordosis.<\/i><\/p>\n

Too Much Lordosis: Hyperlordosis<\/b><\/h3>\n

The spine\u2019s natural curves and alignment are key to overall spinal health, and as the balance and stability of the spine shapes the balance and stability of the entire body, the development of an unhealthy spinal curve can be disruptive in a number of ways.<\/p>\n

A typical spinal curve can become atypical and unhealthy if it increases in size excessively, as is the case with hyperlordosis<\/i>.<\/p>\n

The spine is the body\u2019s main support structure; it allows us to stand upright, practice good posture, engage in a wide range of motion, and supports healthy movement patterns.<\/p>\n

And as the spinal cord consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves that work with the brain and form the central nervous system, a healthy spine is needed for clear brain-body communication (1).<\/p>\n

Hyperlordosis<\/i> is diagnosed when a patient\u2019s lordosis becomes excessive, meaning the spine bends inward too far, disrupting spinal balance and alignment.<\/p>\n

Cervical Hyperlordosis<\/b><\/h4>\n

If a person\u2019s cervical lordosis becomes excessive, cervical hyperlordosis can cause forward head posture to develop; the head shifts forward in response to the neck\u2019s excessive inward curve, increasing the weight of the head on the neck (3, 7).<\/p>\n

Common symptoms of cervical hyperlordosis can include:<\/p>\n