Lordosis is defined as an abnormal curvature of the spine, but the term lordosis is also used to define two of the physiological curvatures of the spine.

The vertebral column has 4 physiological curvatures: cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and sacro-coccygeal curvature. These curvatures increase the strength and elasticity of the spine, maintaining the normal position of the body.

Sometimes, however, when the lower back region, the lumbar spine, is experiencing stress or additional weight, the lumbar curvature archs more than 30-35 degrees as would be normal, it archs to the point of pain or muscle contracture and thus hyperlordosis or accentuated lordosis occurs.

A pronounced lordosis can put additional stress on the posterior structures of the spine, such as the articular facets, which can thus become tense, be injured or simply become rigid, blocked and inflamed. Joint facet syndrome is a common cause of low back pain.

Also, a pronounced lordosis can lead to spondylolisthesis, the sliding of a vertebra, most often forward, from the lower one, and thus causes instability in the spine.

An imbalance caused by the muscles around the lumbar spine and hip, more precisely caused by two opposite muscle couples: the abdominal and buttock muscles (the correcting couple) and the lumbar muscles and the iliopsoas (deforming couple), an imbalance also called cross-pelvic syndrome. This imbalance leads to an anterior inclination of the pelvis, increased flexion of the hips and a compensatory hyperlordosis in the lumbar spine.

There are other causes that cause the accentuation of the lumbar curvature:

➢ heredity (sometimes the accentuated lumbar curvature is transmitted from mother to daughter)
➢ genetic (certain populations presenting a more accentuated lumbar curvature)
➢ pregnancy can also accentuate the lumbar curvature
➢ sports that require excessive exercises of stretching and extension of the spine, such as dance or gymnastics, can contribute to the accentuation of the lumbar curvature

The movements characteristic of sports such as pilates or yoga are very effective for correcting the posture of the spine, improving its stability and flexibility. Cycling also helps to correct the accentuated lumbar curvature, mainly because the sitting position on the bike (tense abdomen and rounded lumbar spine).

When there is excess weight it places additional pressure on the lumbar spine.

Through corrective postures and specific exercise programs, physical therapy is practically the key element of restoring the lumbar curvature. The correction of the curvature is essential because the lumbar spine ensures the stability and flexibility of the entire body. With the help of exercise programs, one can achieve:

➢ rebalancing the pelvis, that is, correcting the deficient posture that involves the anterior inclination of the pelvis, the increased flexion of the hips and compensatory hyperlordosis in the lumbar spine), the posture that results from the action of the two opposing muscle couples: the abdominal and buttock muscles (the correcting couple) and the lumbar muscles and the iliopsoas muscle that is the flexor of the thigh (the deforming couple)
➢ increasing the flexibility of the spine

A period of several months to a year is required to correct a pronounced lumbar curvature.