What’s That “Hump” At The Top Of My Back?

Believe it or not, this is a very common question that I get asked here in the office. The question usually comes from women and they will ask me, “Doc, what’s that hump at the top of my back?” It is likely that they are talking about the area right where the neck meets the upper back. They tell me that they have been noticing it more over the years and that it looks worse and worse in photos. Thankfully, for most of these situations, IT IS CORRECTABLE! The typical culprit for this unsightly problem, is forward head posture.

• What is forward head posture?
  • When the ear no longer lines up vertically with the shoulder, and is now forward from the shoulder.
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• How does it create the “hump”?
  • The first few thoracic vertebra, or “upper back” vertebrae will now protrude upwards as a result of this new hinging from the forward lean of the head.

• Other than assessing posture, what else needs to be done?
  • X-rays may need to be taken to check for irreversible damage like arthritis or to check for vertebral misalignment.

• How do you treat this?
  • Typically, adjustments of the neck and upper back joints and some theraputic modalities to muscles or tissues. Corrective exercises are performed at home and at work.

• What activities create this problem?
  • Prolonged cell phone use, computer work, reading, studying, improper pillow, improper sleeping habits.

Every inch that your ear moves forward from your shoulder, essentially DOUBLES the weight of what it normally weighs! This can lead to neck pain, headaches, migraines, tension in the upper back, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, improper breathing, arthritis, thinning discs, and of course the dreaded “hump at the top of my back”.

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Yours in optimal health and wellness,

Dr. Glenn Ezell