Flatback Syndrome – Symptoms & Treatment Options

Although it’s often talked about as ideal, having a completely straight spine can cause pain, balance issues, and other symptoms. This condition is often referred to as flatback syndrome. In this article, we are going to discuss the symptoms of and treatment options for flatback syndrome.

What is Flatback Syndrome?

A lot of people talk about the importance of having good posture and having a straight back. When you were a child, perhaps your parents told you to “sit up straight” when you slouched. Or maybe you read an article about how important it is to maintain an ergonomic work station for good posture. These are all important points but having a completely straight spine is actually not ideal. The human spine has a slight natural curvature at the pelvis, mid-back, and cervical spine that helps a person maintain balance while standing, sitting, and moving.

Flatback syndrome occurs when the spine’s natural curvature straightens out. In addition to pain, a patient with flatback syndrome may experience trouble standing up straight, balancing effectively, and moving around. Here are a few of the conditions, injuries, and other factors that can contribute to flatback syndrome:

• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Spinal Compression Fractures
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Spinal Stenosis
• Failed Previous Spine Surgery

Treating Flatback

Conservative treatments like pain meds, physical therapy, chiropractic, bracing, and injections can help manage symptoms of flatback syndrome. However, these treatment methods typically won’t fix the root of the problem – the spinal curvature itself (or lack thereof). When pain and other symptoms persist, a minimally invasive keyhole surgery may be necessary to correct the spinal curvature.

If you have flatback syndrome or another back pain condition, consider an Inspired Spine procedure. These minimally invasive keyhole surgeries (The Inspired OLLIF and Inspired MIS-DTIF) are study-backed and have been shown to offer shorter operating times and lowered pain levels in patients. Contact us today to learn more about these revolutionary procedures, and use our online tool to find a provider in your area who performs Inspired Spine surgery.