Scheuermann’s disease is a condition of the mid-back related to the shape of the vertebrae and the curve of the spinal column. Normally, vertebrae are about the same size and rectangular-shaped. With Scheuermann’s disease, the vertebrae become wedge-shaped and a person’s posture may change. The curve in the mid-back may become very visible and can make them look like they are slouching or have very round shoulders. Signs and Symptoms

poor or rounded shoulder posture mid-back pain

humpback appearance with decreased motion of the spine

Increased Risk

genetic predisposition to Scheuermann’s males adolescents

poor posture and physical conditioning (strength and flexibility) repeated mechanical stress to the spine

Treatment

Medicine can help with inflammation and pain.

Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider. Other minor pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®).

Cold and heat may be used.

Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for swelling and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage. Heat may be used before performing stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your health care provider or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or warm soak. Apply for 10 to 15 minutes.

Exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and flexibility may be recommended. These can be done at home but often a referral to a physical therapist or athletic trainer may be prescribed by your health care provider. If a patient is still growing, a brace is often used to reduce the curve and decrease pain. Surgery may be needed in severe cases to correct the deformity.

How to Prevent

Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Use proper lifting and posture techniques when lifting or sitting for long periods. If previously injured, avoid active physical activity that requires twisting of the body in awkward and uncontrolled positions.

Maintain proper conditioning, back and hamstring flexibility, muscle strength and endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Maintain proper body weight

When to Call the Health Care Provider Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at (614) 355-6000 if:

symptoms get worse after 2 to 4 weeks, even with treatment you develop numbness, weakness or loss of bowel or bladder functions new, unexplained symptoms develop

  Sports Medicine: Scheuermann’s Disease (PDF) HH-I-534 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Schedule an Appointment
Schedule a Sports Medicine Appointment Online

Scheuermann’s disease is a condition of the mid-back related to the shape of the vertebrae and the curve of the spinal column. Normally, vertebrae are about the same size and rectangular-shaped. With Scheuermann’s disease, the vertebrae become wedge-shaped and a person’s posture may change. The curve in the mid-back may become very visible and can make them look like they are slouching or have very round shoulders. Signs and Symptoms

poor or rounded shoulder posture mid-back pain

humpback appearance with decreased motion of the spine

Increased Risk

genetic predisposition to Scheuermann’s males adolescents

poor posture and physical conditioning (strength and flexibility) repeated mechanical stress to the spine

Treatment

Medicine can help with inflammation and pain.

Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider. Other minor pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®).

Cold and heat may be used.

Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for swelling and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage. Heat may be used before performing stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your health care provider or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or warm soak. Apply for 10 to 15 minutes.

Exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and flexibility may be recommended. These can be done at home but often a referral to a physical therapist or athletic trainer may be prescribed by your health care provider. If a patient is still growing, a brace is often used to reduce the curve and decrease pain. Surgery may be needed in severe cases to correct the deformity.

How to Prevent

Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Use proper lifting and posture techniques when lifting or sitting for long periods. If previously injured, avoid active physical activity that requires twisting of the body in awkward and uncontrolled positions.

Maintain proper conditioning, back and hamstring flexibility, muscle strength and endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Maintain proper body weight

When to Call the Health Care Provider Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at (614) 355-6000 if:

symptoms get worse after 2 to 4 weeks, even with treatment you develop numbness, weakness or loss of bowel or bladder functions new, unexplained symptoms develop

  Sports Medicine: Scheuermann’s Disease (PDF) HH-I-534 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Schedule an Appointment
Schedule a Sports Medicine Appointment Online

Scheuermann’s disease is a condition of the mid-back related to the shape of the vertebrae and the curve of the spinal column. Normally, vertebrae are about the same size and rectangular-shaped. With Scheuermann’s disease, the vertebrae become wedge-shaped and a person’s posture may change. The curve in the mid-back may become very visible and can make them look like they are slouching or have very round shoulders. Signs and Symptoms

poor or rounded shoulder posture mid-back pain

humpback appearance with decreased motion of the spine

Increased Risk

genetic predisposition to Scheuermann’s males adolescents

poor posture and physical conditioning (strength and flexibility) repeated mechanical stress to the spine

Treatment

Medicine can help with inflammation and pain.

Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider. Other minor pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®).

Cold and heat may be used.

Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for swelling and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage. Heat may be used before performing stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your health care provider or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or warm soak. Apply for 10 to 15 minutes.

Exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and flexibility may be recommended. These can be done at home but often a referral to a physical therapist or athletic trainer may be prescribed by your health care provider. If a patient is still growing, a brace is often used to reduce the curve and decrease pain. Surgery may be needed in severe cases to correct the deformity.

How to Prevent

Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Use proper lifting and posture techniques when lifting or sitting for long periods. If previously injured, avoid active physical activity that requires twisting of the body in awkward and uncontrolled positions.

Maintain proper conditioning, back and hamstring flexibility, muscle strength and endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Maintain proper body weight

When to Call the Health Care Provider Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at (614) 355-6000 if:

symptoms get worse after 2 to 4 weeks, even with treatment you develop numbness, weakness or loss of bowel or bladder functions new, unexplained symptoms develop

  Sports Medicine: Scheuermann’s Disease (PDF) HH-I-534 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Scheuermann’s disease is a condition of the mid-back related to the shape of the vertebrae and the curve of the spinal column. Normally, vertebrae are about the same size and rectangular-shaped. With Scheuermann’s disease, the vertebrae become wedge-shaped and a person’s posture may change. The curve in the mid-back may become very visible and can make them look like they are slouching or have very round shoulders.

Signs and Symptoms

poor or rounded shoulder posture mid-back pain

humpback appearance with decreased motion of the spine

Increased Risk

genetic predisposition to Scheuermann’s males adolescents

poor posture and physical conditioning (strength and flexibility) repeated mechanical stress to the spine

Treatment

  • Medicine can help with inflammation and pain.
  • Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider.
  • Other minor pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®).
  • Cold and heat may be used.
  • Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for swelling and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.
  • Heat may be used before performing stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your health care provider or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or warm soak. Apply for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and flexibility may be recommended. These can be done at home but often a referral to a physical therapist or athletic trainer may be prescribed by your health care provider.
  • If a patient is still growing, a brace is often used to reduce the curve and decrease pain.
  • Surgery may be needed in severe cases to correct the deformity.

How to Prevent

Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Use proper lifting and posture techniques when lifting or sitting for long periods. If previously injured, avoid active physical activity that requires twisting of the body in awkward and uncontrolled positions.

Maintain proper conditioning, back and hamstring flexibility, muscle strength and endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Maintain proper body weight

When to Call the Health Care Provider

Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at (614) 355-6000 if:

poor or rounded shoulder posture mid-back pain

humpback appearance with decreased motion of the spine

  • poor or rounded shoulder posture

  • mid-back pain

  • humpback appearance with decreased motion of the spine

genetic predisposition to Scheuermann’s males adolescents

poor posture and physical conditioning (strength and flexibility) repeated mechanical stress to the spine

  • genetic predisposition to Scheuermann’s

  • males

  • adolescents

  • poor posture and physical conditioning (strength and flexibility)

  • repeated mechanical stress to the spine

  • Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider.

  • Other minor pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®).

  • Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for swelling and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.

  • Heat may be used before performing stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your health care provider or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or warm soak. Apply for 10 to 15 minutes.

Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Use proper lifting and posture techniques when lifting or sitting for long periods. If previously injured, avoid active physical activity that requires twisting of the body in awkward and uncontrolled positions.

Maintain proper conditioning, back and hamstring flexibility, muscle strength and endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Maintain proper body weight

  • Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition.

  • Use proper lifting and posture techniques when lifting or sitting for long periods.

  • If previously injured, avoid active physical activity that requires twisting of the body in awkward and uncontrolled positions.

  • Maintain proper conditioning, back and hamstring flexibility, muscle strength and endurance and cardiovascular fitness.

  • Maintain proper body weight

  • symptoms get worse after 2 to 4 weeks, even with treatment

  • you develop numbness, weakness or loss of bowel or bladder functions

  • new, unexplained symptoms develop

 

Sports Medicine: Scheuermann’s Disease (PDF)

HH-I-534 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Schedule an Appointment
Schedule a Sports Medicine Appointment Online

Schedule an Appointment
Schedule a Sports Medicine Appointment Online