Pediatric lordosis (sway back)

What is pediatric lordosis (sway back)?

If your child has lordosis, or swayback, you may notice that their lower back and buttocks stick out more than others. In a normal spine, there is a slight inward curve. Lordosis is a condition in which the inward spinal curve is extreme.

The exaggerated curve of the vertebrae (back bones) in the lower back can be seen from the side. Your child’s abdomen may stick out, causing the pelvis to curve back and the buttocks to stick out.

Risk factors

If your child has a neuromuscular condition, such as cerebral palsy (CP), muscular dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy, they are more likely to have lordosis.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric lordosis (sway back)?

The symptoms of lordosis may include:

• Buttocks that seems to stick out excessively
• Muscle pain or spasms in the lower back due to the position of the spine

What are the causes of pediatric lordosis (sway back)?

There are several reasons a child may have lordosis, including:

• Achondroplasia (dwarfism)
• Bad posture
• Congenital (present at birth)
• Genetics (inherited from a parent)
• Neuromuscular disease
• Pelvis or hip injury or condition
• Previous spine surgery
• Spondylolisthesis or another spine disorder
• Traumatic injury to the spine