Particulars of Lumbar Curvature Prompt Human Behavior Studies

Lumbar Curvature

Did you know that there have been studies done about lumbar curvature in women and how certain spinal curves serve to make the female more attractive?

A few years ago, four professors from the U.S., Turkey, and Lebanon penned a study called “Lumbar curvature: A previously undiscovered standard of attractiveness”. In this study, the academics considered a hypothesis that human standards of attractiveness reflect the output of psychological adaptations to detect fitness-relevant traits. They studied ancestral hominin females and determined that men preferred women with the optimal angle of lumbar curvature. Who wouldn’t, right?

All joking aside, having the optimal degree of lumbar curvature is important for our health and comfort. When someone suffers from lumbar curvature that varies from the norm, they often complain of pain and, in addition, worry about how they look. While to some that might sound rather self-centered, remember that no one really wants to look different.

As a spine specialist, you’ve probably seen patients with varying degrees of lumbar curvature. Perhaps some of your patients may have lost that natural curve in their spine and are suffering from flat back syndrome. Or conversely, the curvature may have become too severe and they may be suffering from problems such as scoliosis, lordosis, or kyphosis.

Lordosis, which results in swayback, can be caused by obesity, osteoporosis, or discitis, while kyphosis – which is characterized by a severely rounded upper back – might be the result of arthritis, osteoporosis, or spine infections or tumors. With scoliosis, it’s hard to pinpoint a cause but it still demands attention.

If your patients suffer from any condition that results in improper lumbar curvature, you’ll want to make them aware of what’s happening to their spine and why. A clear understanding of their problem relieves their anxieties and also makes them more likely to accept your suggestions for treatment and to develop more confidence in you, the medical professional.

Forbes Magazine published an article about two years ago that expounded upon problems with doctor-patient trust. It concluded that in the U.S., for example, most people like their doctors but note that they don’t trust the medical profession in general. In Canada, a similar survey noted that 40 percent of all respondents believe their doctors are less trustworthy now then they were a decade ago.

To develop trust, one needs patient education. The two go hand in hand. For spine issues like those mentioned here, nothing educates patients about their conditions like the lumbar models from Dynamic Disc Designs (DDD). These models, fully dynamic and designed by a chiropractor to look and move like the real thing, have become the standard tool for spine education and are now being used by doctors around the world in hopes that it will help them gain the confidence of their patients.

“Having an accurate and interactive model available to help convey pathomechanical and pathophysiological concepts is extremely valuable. I believe the DDD models enable me to quickly and effectively educate my patients, allowing me to better manage inappropriate attitudes and beliefs concerning their diagnosis, treatment options, and subsequent prognosis.”
– Cameron M. Brown, DC

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