title: [The biomechanics of kyphosis].
abstract: Kyphosis is a dorsally convex curvature of the spine in the sagittal plane. A pathological kyphosis of the thoracic spine has a Cobb angle greater than 50 degrees. It occurs when the anterior and/or posterior load-transferring elements of the spine are overloaded or damaged. Wedge-shaped vertebral bodies may be found at one or several levels. A wedge-shaped vertebral body increases the curvature of the spine and moves the centre of gravity of the body parts above of the corresponding vertebral body in a ventral direction. This increases the flexion-bending moment acting on the spine. In the case of a wedge-shaped deformation of a vertebral body, the relative increase of the flexion moment is a function of the wedge angle and of the original position of the centre of gravity of the upper body.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin. rohlmann@biomechanik.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rohlmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klöckner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bergmann
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology