dowager's hump


dow·a·ger's hump

An abnormal curvature of the spine that is primarily manifested as a rounded hump in the upper back and that typically affects older women. The curvature is the result of collapse of the spinal column caused by osteoporosis.

dow′ager's hump′

n. Informal.
a type of kyphosis, common in older women, in which the shoulders become rounded and the upper back develops a hump.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.dowager's hump - abnormal spinal curvature that results when osteoporosis causes the spine to collapse; seen most often in elderly women
spinal curvature - an abnormal curvature of the vertebral column
References in periodicals archive ?
A: Your friend is right that hyperkyphosis (also known as "dowager's hump"), which is characterized by an extreme forward curvature of the spine, may cause pulmonary decline.
In a randomized, controlled trial with 99 participants, targeted spine strengthening exercises and a posture training program were found to reduce hyperkyphosis (Dowager's hump) in older adults.
Given that hyperkyphosis is also associated with bone loss and vertebral fractures, the authors of the article "Patterns of menopausal hormone therapy use and hyperkyphosis in older women" hypothesised that HT may also be effective in helping prevent exaggerated spine curvature, sometimes called dowager's hump.
Hyperkyphosis (also known as "dowager's hump") affects as many as 20 to 40 percent of older adults.
One physical issue often associated with aging is called a dowager's hump. The more formal term for this condition is kyphosis.
August believes the iHunch (similar to a dowager's hump in the elderly, usually associated with osteoporosis) can result in permanent curvature of the spine and is the underlying problem of most neck and upper back issues and up to 50 per cent of headaches.
Spinal fractures are the most common type of osteoporotic fractures and can cause extreme pain, long or short-term disability and Dowager's hump.
Though she acknowledges the resurgence of critical interest in Mina Loy, in addition to treating her strained relationship to futurism and unique feminist invocation of virginity, Burstein adds fascinating archival examples of Loy's entrepreneurial activities, "intelligent designs" including the devising of a corselet to counter dowager's hump. The New York little magazine, Rogue, where Loy's poetry appeared in conjunction with visual art, offers a fascinating counter as a fashion statement to the mass market Vogue.
If my postal delivery person comes down with a case of dowager's hump, I will feel responsible.
It's a short step from there to the spine curving outwards to form a hump - the dowager's hump - that thrusts the head and neck forward and down, making walking painful and difficult.
had told them that broken bones could be a sign of osteoporosis, the women were not as well informed about other possible consequences, including loss of height, dowager's hump, and disability or immobility.