6. Kyphosis, aka, Dowager's Hump

Vertebrae are well supported posteriorly (the "facet" wings), but not so much anteriorly (the vertebra body).  Plus the anterior is subjected to more stress when bent over (heavy lifting), or impact stress (riding horseback). Continuous stress can cause multiple small fractures in the vertebral body, leading to compression and forward bend.

This is not bad posture--a problem of past or current weakness or discipline-- not tight ligaments that just need loosening, and not subluxation fixable by chiropractic manipulation, but an irreversible spinal curve.  Really irreversible? Completely?  Well, maybe not, as my next post will suggest.