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The term Dowagerâs Hump originated from the Greek word âkyphosisâ which means a hump, and dowager for its technical term meaning âdignified elderly womanâ. A physical deformity resulting in a condition of over-curvature of the thoracic spine (upper back) of our body.
Most compression fractures happen in the front of the vertebra. When you get enough of them, the front part of the bone can collapse. The back of the vertebra is made of harder bone, so it stays intact. That creates a wedge-shaped vertebra, which can lead to the stooped posture you might know as a dowager's hump. Doctors call it kyphosis.