Get answers to your child's growth, nutrition, and feeding
behavior questions. Lordosis is an increased curving of the
spine. The spine has three types of curves: A small degree of
both kyphotic and lordotic curvature is normal. Too much
kyphotic curving causes round shoulders or hunched shoulders
(Scheuermann's disease). Too much lordotic curving is called
swayback (lordosis). Lordosis tends to make the buttocks appear
more prominent. Children with significant lordosis will have a
significant space beneath their lower back when lying on their
back on a hard surface. If the lordotic curve is flexible (when
the child bends forward the curve reverses itself), it is
generally not a concern. If the curve does not move, medical
evaluation and treatment are needed. Spiegel DA, Hosalkar HS,
Dormans JP. The spine. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB,
Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed.
Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 678. © 2011
University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All