Common Postural Deformities

This refers to the deformation in the skeletal structure or where

the body are not aligned to each other, that results in some
kind of postural deformities. People having postural deformities
cannot perform their work efficiently.

Some common postural deformities are knock knee, flat foot,

round shoulder, Bow leg, kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis.

1. Knock knees: Knock Knees, also known as Genu valgum, is

a knee misalignment that turns the knees inward. As a
result, both knees touch or knock against each other in a
normal standing posture but there is a gap of 3-4 inches
between the ankles.
Due to this deformity, the gap between ankles goes on
increasing and an individual usually faces difficulty during
walking and running. People with knock knees cannot be
good sports person.

Causes:
 Weakness of muscle and ligament.
 Overweight body and lack of balance diet.
 Lack of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus.
 Due to rickets i.e Problem with bone development.
 Precaution
 Balance diet should be taken
 Do not force the babies to walk at early age.

Corrective measures or Exercise

 If knock knees are treated at an early age the there are
greater chances of correcting them as the bone are soft at
early age.
 Horse riding should be done.
 Keep a pillow between your knee and stand straight for
some time.
 Perform Padamasana and Gomukhasana.
 Use walking callipers.

2.Bow Legs: Bow Legs, also known as Genu varum, is a position

of knees in which legs look like a bow, when the legs curve
outward at the knees while the feet and ankles touch. Infants and
toddlers often have bow legs.
This deformity can be observed easily when an individual walks
or runs.
Causes:
 Putting extra weight on leg muscle.
 Lack of balance diet, calcium and phosphorus.
 Improper way of walking.
  Forcing babies to walk at very early age.
 Overweight.
 Deficiency of vitamin D
 Bone fracture that hasn’t healed properly.
 Abnormal bone development.
Precaution
 Balance diet should be taken
 Do not force the babies to walk at early age

Corrective measures or Exercise

 This deformity can be corrected at early age.
 Walk by bending the toes inwards or on the inner edge of
the feet’s.
 Squat by tying a piece of cloth on both legs at knees level.
Repeat this for a few times.
 Perform Ardhmatseyendrasana, Garudasana, and Ardh
chakrasana.
3.Flat foot: Flat foot is also known as pes planus or fallen
arches. It is a condition that may be diagnosed by looking at the
arch of the foot or by taking the water print test. As the name
flat foot suggests, people suffering from this deformity have
either no arch in their feet, or one that is very low, allowing the
entire soles of the feet to touch the floor in standing position.
CAUSES:
  Heaviness of the body
 Standing for long time.
 Use of poor-quality footwear that is not having an arch.
 Faulty posture.
 Weak muscle can not bear the body weight properly.
 Carrying heavy weight for longer period of time.
Precaution:
 Wear shoes of proper size and shape.
 High heeled shoes or walking barefoot for long duration
should be avoided.
 Do not force the babies to walk at early age
 Obesity and carrying heavy weight in early childhood
should be avoided.
Corrective measures or Exercise
 Walk on heels and toes.
 Pick up marble with toes.
 Perform Vajrasana.
 Perform rope skipping.
 Therapeutic massage such as rolling the ball under your
foot, may help to improve arch flexibility.
 Perform Ardh Mukha Svanasana.
4.Round Shoulders: Round shoulders is a postural deformity in
which shoulders are bent forward from the ideal alignment,
thereby giving a narrow curve to upper back. It leads to postural
deviations such as hyperkyphosis, or hunch back and anterior
head carriage, or forward head posture. Over time, these
postural conditions can progress and lead to other conditions
such as chronic neck pain, lack of shoulder mobility.
Causes:
 Poor posture at work, particularly in a desk job.
 Sitting on faulty or improper furniture.
 Wrong habit of standing walking and sitting.
 Carrying heavy load on shoulder.
 Wearing very tight clothes.
 Lack of proper exercise. Especially of shoulder may also led
to round shoulders.
Precaution:
 Do not sit, stand or walk in bent position.
 Avoid tight cloths.
 Avoid sitting on improper furniture.
Corrective measures or Exercise
 Stand in a correct posture.
 Keep the finger tips on your shoulder and encircle your
elbow in clockwise and anti-clock wise direction.
 Perform Chakrasana and Dhanurasana for some time.
 Hold the horizontal bar for some time.
5. Kyphosis: Kyphosis is also known as Hunch Back or round
upper back. The word Kyphosis comes from the Greek term
kyph and means bent or bowed. It is a condition of the spine
where the curvature of the upper back gets exaggerated or
increases. It is an exaggerated, forward rounding of the back.
Causes:
 Malnutrition and illness.
 Carrying heavy load on shoulder.
 Habit of bending while walking.
 Muscle weakness on the upper back.
 Osteoporosis, or the loss of bone strength.
 Injury to the spine.
Precaution:
 Take a balance diet.
 Keep the body straight while carrying weight.
 Avoid walking too long with weight on one hand.
 Learn appropriate posture of sitting, standing and walking.
 Proper exercise.
Corrective measures or Exercise
 Sitting on a chair, hold hands from behind the back of the
chair so that shoulder are pulled backwards and back is
straight. Hold and release this position for 4-5 times.
 Bend head backwards in standing position.
 Physical therapy, swimming, exercise/ gym ball exercises,
exercises with bands. Perform Dhanurasana, Chakrasana
and Bhujangasana to get optimum benefits.
6. Lordosis: Lordosis is a spinal deformity in which the angle of
arc of the lower back is reduced. This leads to an increase and
exaggeration of normal concavity of the lumber region of the
spine. It is increased forward curve in the lumber region. It
creates problem in standing and walking. It is also known as
sway back. Chronic Lordosis may lead to pain and discomfort
and become more serious if left untreated.
Causes:
 Habitual overeating
 Improper environment.
 Improper development of muscle.
 Obesity.
Precaution:
 Eat healthy and less oily food.
 Maintain normal body weight.
 Do not bend too much whole sitting.
 Doing regular lower back stretching exercise.
Corrective measures or Exercise:
 Lie on your back and left your feet vertically.
 Lying in prone position (Chest facing towards selling) raise
lower back region by keeping hands under abdomen, hip
and shoulders down.
 Perform Halasana and Paschimottasana.
 Do sit ups slowly.
7.Scoliosis: It is a postural deformity of spine in which a
person’s spinal axis has a three-dimensional deviation. The
meaning of scoliosis is bending, twisting or rotating. The simple
or single curve to the left or convexity left is commonly called as
S-curve.
CAUSES:
 Hereditary defects
 One side flat foot
 One side vision and hearing defects
 Short leg of one side
 Paralysis of spinal muscles
 Wrong standing posture.
 Neurological Abnormalities.
Precaution:
 Take a balance diet.
 Keep the body straight while carrying weight.
 Avoid walking too long with weight on one hand.
 Do not sit, stand or walk in bent position.
Corrective measures or Exercise:
 This can be cured by doing and repeating various exercises
and voluntary efforts. (
 By hanging oneself from the hands.
 By developing strength in spinal extensors.
 Applying backstroke technique while swimming.
 Perform Trikonasana with proper technique.
 Hang on horizontal bar as long as possible then repeat it.
Special Consideration (Menarche, Menstrual Dysfunction)
Female Athletes Triad (Osteoporosis, Amenorrhoea, Eating
Disorders.) 
Menarche: Menarche is a young woman's first menstrual cycle
and bleed. Throughout history, menarche has been an
important social rite, making a girl's passage to adulthood.
However, it happens during a time of physical activity or sexual
maturation when a girl usually has her first period between the
age of 9 to 15. In 5 percent of cases, menarche occurs between
the age of 16 to 18. 
Menstrual Dysfunction: It is defined as abnormal bleeding in
the absence of intra cavitary or uterine pathology. Menstrual
dysfunction in athletes may include primary amenorrhoea,
secondary amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea and luteal phase
deficiency. In adolescence, it is considered to have delayed
puberty when breast development has not begun by 13.5 years
of age.
Female Athletes Triad:
The 'female athletes' triad' is a syndrome of three related
conditions generally seen in teenage or adult female athletes
who aren't meeting their energy requirements, which
ultimately leaves them undernourished. These are:
(i) Osteoporosis: Estrogen is lower in girls with female
athletes’ triad. Osteoporosis is weakening of the
bones due to less of bone density and improper bone
 formation. This condition can ruin a female athlete's
career because it may lead to stress, fractures and
other injuries.
Causes: Low estrogen levels and poor nutrition, especially
low calcium intake, can lead to osteoporosis. Imbalance of
thyroxine hormone.
Preventive measures :
Preventing osteoporosis involves a combination of lifestyle
measures and medical interventions. Here are some effective
prevention strategies:

1. **Dietary Calcium and Vitamin D**: Calcium is crucial for

bone health, and vitamin D helps in its absorption. Ensure
adequate intake of calcium-rich foods like dairy products,
leafy greens, and fortified foods, along with exposure to
sunlight for vitamin D synthesis.

2. **Regular Exercise**: Weight-bearing exercises such as

walking, jogging, dancing, and resistance training help
strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Balance and posture exercises can also help prevent falls and
fractures.
3. **Healthy Lifestyle Choices**: Avoid smoking and
excessive alcohol consumption, as they can decrease bone
density and increase fracture risk.

4. **Nutritional Supplements**: In consultation with a

healthcare provider, supplements may be recommended for
those who are unable to get enough calcium and vitamin D
through diet alone.

5. **Awareness and Education**: Understanding your

personal risk factors and discussing prevention strategies
with your healthcare provider can help tailor a plan that suits
your needs.

By combining these preventive measures, individuals can

significantly reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis and
its associated complications. Regular check-ups and
maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key to long-term bone
health.

(ii) Amenorrhea: It is a menstrual disorder or illness in

females in which females of 18 years of age and
above either never begin menstruating or there is
absence of menstruation for 3 months or more.
 Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstrual
periods in women of reproductive age. There are two main
types of amenorrhea:

1.Primary Amenorrhea: This occurs when a woman has not

started menstruating by the age of 16, despite normal
growth and development. Primary amenorrhea can be
caused by various factors, including genetic conditions,
anatomical abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, or chronic
illnesses.

2. Secondary Amenorrhea: This occurs when a woman who

has previously had normal menstrual cycles stops
menstruating for at least three cycles (typically six months or
more). Secondary amenorrhea can be caused by factors such
as pregnancy, breastfeeding, extreme weight loss or gain,
intense exercise, stress, hormonal contraceptives, certain
medications, thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS), or pituitary gland disorders.

In both types of amenorrhea, it's important to identify the

underlying cause through a thorough medical evaluation,
which may include physical examination, blood tests to
assess hormone levels, imaging studies (such as ultrasound),
and sometimes specialized tests (like genetic testing or MRI
scans) depending on the suspected cause.

Treatment of amenorrhea depends on the underlying cause.

For primary amenorrhea, treatment may involve hormonal
therapy or surgical correction of anatomical abnormalities.
For secondary amenorrhea, treatment focuses on addressing
the underlying condition, which may include lifestyle
changes, medication adjustments, or hormonal therapy. It's
essential for women experiencing amenorrhea to seek
medical evaluation to determine the cause and appropriate
management to prevent potential complications and ensure
overall health.
(iii) Eating Disorders: Most girls with female athlete’s
triad try to lose weight as a way to improve their
athletic performance. The disordered eating that
accompanies female athletes’ triad can range from
not eating enough calories to keep up with energy
demands to avoiding certain types of food the athlete
thinks are 'Bad' (such as foods containing fat) to
serious eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or
bulimia nervosa.
A) Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized
by an intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image,
and extreme efforts to control food intake and weight.
People with anorexia typically severely restrict their food
 intake, often to the point of starvation, and may exercise
excessively.
Key features of anorexia nervosa include:
1. Restricted food intake: Individuals severely limit the amount
and types of food they eat, leading to significant weight loss.
2. Intense fear of gaining weight: Even when underweight,
individuals with anorexia may perceive themselves as
overweight and fear gaining weight or becoming fat.
3. Disturbed body image: There's a persistent distortion of
body image, where individuals may see themselves as
overweight despite being significantly underweight.
4.Physical consequences: Anorexia can lead to a range of
physical health problems, including low blood pressure, heart
problems, kidney damage, osteoporosis, and disruptions in
menstrual cycles in females.
5. Psychological effects: Beyond physical health issues, anorexia
nervosa can also cause significant psychological distress,
including depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, and suicidal
thoughts.
Treatment for anorexia nervosa typically involves a combination
of medical monitoring, nutritional counseling, therapy (such as
cognitive-behavioral therapy), and sometimes medications.
Early intervention is crucial for improving outcomes and
preventing serious health complications.
B) Bulimia nervosa is another serious eating disorder
characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by
behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting,
misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, fasting, or
excessive exercise. Like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa is
associated with a distorted body image and can have serious
physical and psychological consequences.

Key features of bulimia nervosa include:

1. Binge eating: Episodes of binge eating, which involve
consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time
while feeling a lack of control over eating behavior.
2. Compensatory behaviors: Following binge eating episodes,
individuals with bulimia engage in behaviors to prevent weight
gain, such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, or excessive
exercise.
3. Body image disturbance: Similar to anorexia nervosa,
individuals with bulimia nervosa often have a distorted body
image and an intense fear of gaining weight.
4. Psychological effects: Individuals with bulimia may
experience shame, guilt, and distress related to their eating
behaviors. They may also have co-occurring mood disorders,
such as depression or anxiety.
Treatment for bulimia nervosa often includes a combination of
medical management, nutritional counseling, psychotherapy
(such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy),
and sometimes medications. Similar to anorexia nervosa, early
intervention is important to improve outcomes and prevent
complications associated with the disorder.