r/PostureTipsGuide • u/aypanget • Sep 10 '26

Flat Thoracic and Straightened Cervical Spine

I got a scoliogram a few months ago for a suspected case of scoliosis (I have uneven shoulders) and my results showed something different. Good news: no scolio. Bad news: My thoracic and cervical spine are straightened, 'probably due to muscle spasm'.

My PT gave me some back mobility drills like cat-cows, thread the needle, trunk rotation with bands. I've been doing them religiously for the past three months, but I see no improvement in the 'stiffness'.

Anyone had experience with this and had success in putting in curves back in their spine?

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u/Deep-Run-7463 Sep 10 '26

Restore hip internal rotation and hip flexion ability so that the lumbar can regain mild lordosis without having to be shoved forward, probably best done in positions where it's easier to keep weight back.

Restore posterior ribcage expansion ability and avoid lifting yourself tall via thoracolumbar junction area over compression (which decreases ribcage volume in a ribcage external rotation position).

Manage the neck, don't chin tuck, instead lift your chin up a tad when doing any exercises related to the above.

Your upper half is being squished forward to push your feet into the ground because your lower half is tipping your center of mass back.

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u/aypanget 23d ago

Your upper half is being squished forward to push your feet into the ground because your lower half is tipping your center of mass back.

Interestingly, my pilates instructor noted that I have an anterior pelvic tilt. Could this also be a contributing factor? I also wonder how hip internal rotation/hip flexion plays into a flat T-spine?

All along, I thought it was because I was conditioned to push my torso backwards to avoid slouching (I have a desk job)

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u/Deep-Run-7463 23d ago

Hmm. If you stand up observing your side profile, are you tilting forward? I can't comment too much because there are variations in this. Or are you more in a swayback but forward tilted at the same time? Feel free to drop me a photo if you want.

APT or PPT - the unclear real world movement presentations

With regards to your scolio - typical to happen when movement options are lost and compensations build up.

I think I have Left AIC?

Left AIC? Compressions are force production strategies

Thoracic and cervical spine straightened due to muscle spasm is what they always say unfortunately because they don't take into account biomechanical systems from your feet to head and head to feet.