What it means
Excessive rounding of the upper back with forward shoulders and a forward head.
Where it comes from
Weak thoracic extensors with a short chest, usually from years of sitting.
How it is measured
It is measured on the side view, in the sagittal plane. The defining measurement is Rounded upper back (Thoracic kyphosis), and it is reported as a finding from above 45°. The number is computed from landmarks on that photograph — not estimated by eye, and not compared against a stock example.
What the numbers mean
| Measurement | Grade |
|---|---|
| up to 45° | Within normal range |
| 45–55° | Mild hyperkyphosis |
| 55–70° | Moderate hyperkyphosis |
| 70° and above | Severe hyperkyphosis |
Source of the bands: Conventional 20-45° thoracic window; surface measurement, not a radiographic Cobb angle
What is usually seen alongside it
- Where the head sits over the shoulder (Craniovertebral angle) — below 50°
- Shoulders rolled forward (Scapular protraction) — above 3°
None of these is a diagnosis on its own. Together they corroborate the finding; apart, they do not refute it — a measurement nobody took counts neither for nor against.
What confirms it
To separate postural from structural: a postural curve straightens on active extension or lying prone, a structural one does not. Scheuermann's is confirmed only on a standing lateral radiograph.
Every number on this page is measured on the skin surface in a photograph. That is not the same as a measurement taken on a radiograph: it correlates with one and does not replace it. Wherever the decision depends on imaging, this page and the report itself say so.
What happens at the clinic
The assessment starts with three standing photographs — front, side and back. Every angle is measured on those photographs, the report prints the number and the grade for each, and the exercise programme is built from those numbers rather than from a template. Posture analysis explains the whole path, and the online assessment can be started from your own photograph now.
Frequently asked questions
At what point is thoracic hyperkyphosis reported?
When rounded upper back (thoracic kyphosis) is above 45°, it is reported as a finding. That is where the "Mild hyperkyphosis" band begins. The bands come from: Conventional 20-45° thoracic window; surface measurement, not a radiographic Cobb angle
Can thoracic hyperkyphosis be assessed from a photograph?
A photograph gives a number, which most assessments do not have. But it is a surface measurement and it does not replace imaging. To separate postural from structural: a postural curve straightens on active extension or lying prone, a structural one does not. Scheuermann's is confirmed only on a standing lateral radiograph.
What is the most severe grade?
The worst band in this table is "Severe hyperkyphosis". The grade is printed beside the measurement itself in the report, so it is always clear which number produced the word.