Exams and Tests for Kyphosis

If you are concerned about an unusual curve to your spine, call your doctor. Only a doctor can reliably determine if you have kyphosis. During your visit, your doctor will ask you questions about your health and perform a brief examination. There are three parts to the doctor’s exam:

Physical Exam: During the physical exam, the doctor looks at your back and feels your spine. Kyphosis is best seen from the side, both standing straight and bending forward. To test your range of motion, your doctor will ask you to bend forward, backward, sideways, and to twist. Some people with kyphosis find it hard to do these movements.

Nervous System Exam: Next, your doctor will test your nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that extend like tree branches through the body (see diagram). The nerves carry messages to and from the brain to control your body. The doctor will ask if any part of your body is painful, tingles, is numb, or feels weak. Because nerves make everything work in the body, the doctor will also ask you if you are able to go to the bathroom normally.

Imaging Tests: X-rays are taken of the spine with you standing and laying down so that the doctor can see your spine from behind and from the side. These views will show many problems in the spine, including unusual curves and vertebrae that have unusual shapes (usually wedged shape). X-rays are also used to measure the size of the curve in the spine. If your doctor thinks there is a nerve problem, another test called a Magnetic Resonance Imaging test (an MRI) is performed. The pictures produced by an MRI machine are very detailed, so the doctor can see all of the structures in your spine.