TL;DR:
- What is widow's hump? A fatty tissue buildup below the neck, not related to bone/cartilage issues. It causes pain and limited mobility in the neck, shoulders, and arms.
- Symptoms: Rounded back, protrusion below the neck, forward head posture, pain in head/neck/back, mobility restrictions, possible nausea, tinnitus, breathing issues.
- Causes: Poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, stress, myopia, medications, osteoporosis, genetics, or conditions like Cushing's Syndrome/HIV treatment.
- Diagnosis: Medical consultation with an orthopedist using imaging, palpation, and functional tests.
- Treatments:
- Therapeutic massage: Relaxes muscles and corrects posture.
- Specialized massage: Lymphatic drainage breaks and removes fatty deposits.
- Kinesitherapy: Tailored exercises to restore mobility and correct posture.
- Liposuction/Injection lipolysis: Removes hump tissue with minimal invasiveness.
- LPG Endermologie: Vacuum massage to reduce fat and pain.
The widow's hump, although most people associate it with aging and old age is now affecting more and more young people. Also, its name refers to widowed women, in whom this kind of thickening in the cervical and thoracic regions of the spine could often be noticed. Find out what exactly a widow's hump is and how you can fight it.
Symptoms of widow's hump
The widow's hump also called buffalo hump appears just below the neck. Contrary to popular belief, it is not associated with abnormalities in the bone and cartilage tissue. It is composed entirely of fatty tissue. Among its characteristics are a noticeable protrusion at the level of the upper attachments of the quadriceps muscle, rounding of the back, and, consequently, the forward extension of the head. Often people who have a buffalo hump complain of head, back, neck, shoulder and arm pain. It is not only an aesthetic problem, but also a practical one. Neglecting the buffalo hump can lead to problems with neck movement, breathing, tinnitus and nausea. The buffalo hump also significantly limits the mobility of the surrounding muscles.
Causes of widow's hump
The causes of the appearance of widow's hump are not fully explained, but it is known that a large role in its formation is played by insufficient exercise, a sedentary lifestyle and the maintenance of poor posture. The risk of widow's hump is increased by overweight and obesity, chronic stress and myopia. Various diseases and the intake of certain medications can also influence its formation. The contribution of genetic factors and abnormal sitting habits developed in childhood are also not excluded – some people have a greater tendency to form such changes. The cause of the condition may also be osteoporosis. So if a patient notices a widow's hump in himself or suspects that perhaps the affliction is also developing in him, he should go for a medical consultation as soon as possible. ** Often it is enough only to change habits to get rid of the hump. Sometimes, however, it is a symptom of more serious systemic abnormalities. Then, time is of the essence and treatment should be sought as soon as possible. Widow's hump also often appears in HIV-infected people taking antiviral therapy, as well as in the course of **Cushing's Syndrome**.
Diagnosing postural defects
To diagnose buffalo hump, it is necessary to go for a medical consultation. An orthopedist must look at the figure carefully and determine whether a widow's hump is actually present. Various imaging, palpation, as well as functional tests are sometimes helpful in this. Together with the doctor, the cause of the hump's appearance is also sought, as it usually determines the treatment. Examples of forms of treatment include massage, kinesitherapy, liposuction or injection lipolysis, among others.
Therapeutic massage
Therapeutic massage is an excellent treatment to get rid of widow's hump, as well as the pain that often accompanies it. Thanks to it, you can count on relaxing tense muscles, increasing your range of motion and correcting the unsightly lesion on your neck after taking care of proper posture. Massage will also relieve strain caused by improper body positioning and help you relax. It involves using a variety of manual techniques – stroking, kneading and massaging or pressing on specific points on the body. Sometimes special rollers are also used for massage. Massage can be performed holistically, covering the patient's entire body, or partially, focusing only on the widow's hump.
Specialized massage – lymphatic drainage.
Specialized massage is a way to restore the tissues on which the widow's hump has developed to their original form. Since the hump significantly restricts mobility and causes pain, specialized massage in compression form may be just what the patient needs. It has a stimulating effect on blood and lymph flow in the body, so it increases the body's regenerative capacity and regulates muscle tension. Lymphatic drainage allows you to break up fatty deposits that are lodged in various parts, and then remove them from the body.
Kinesitherapy for widow's hump
Kinesitherapy is a type of physiotherapy treatment that combines several different branches of movement treatment. It is a set of individually selected exercises by a physiotherapist to the patient's problem. Various forms of it are mentioned:
- Passive – in which exercises are performed without the participation of the Patient, and the body is moved by the kinesiotherapist.
- Practical – in which the Patient performs exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist, who watches over the correct movement patterns.
- Isometric – which involves tensing the muscles, but not changing their position with joint movement.
- In relief – when the patient exercises in the greatest possible range of motion for himself, and the therapist relieves the strain and controls his track.
The aforementioned types of kinesitherapy are also supplemented with synergistic exercises, where the healthy limb assists the sick limb, and tasks performed on lifts or with special instruments.
Objectives of kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy is intended for anyone who, for any reason, has limited dexterity, range of motion, is in pain or wants to return to full function after various accidents and injuries. It is also very useful for people who have problems with the nervous or respiratory system, hence perfectly suits the needs of anyone who has developed a widow's hump. Its purpose is to maximize muscle strengthening, correct postural defects and abnormal movement patterns. The great advantage of this type of physiotherapy treatment is that you don't have to worry about limited dexterity, since each exercise is matched to the patient's abilities and needs. Kinesitherapy is carried out in specially adapted rooms equipped with appropriate equipment. Exercises are performed several times a week for 30-60 minutes each.
Liposuction, or liposuction of fat.
Liposuction is a procedure that allows suctioning fat from anywhere on the body. Since the widow's hump is an accumulation and collection of fatty tissue in one place, liposuction can be successfully used to treat it. Its great advantage is the immediate effect, short recovery period and the possibility of transplanting the suctioned tissue to any other place on the body, after it has been cleaned.
To have liposuction performed, one must start by making an appointment for a medical consultation, where a specialist will look at the hump and conduct a thorough interview with the patient. The procedure itself begins with the administration of anesthesia and a fat thinning preparation. The suction is then proceeded with a small cannula, which helps select the tissue evenly.
Injection lipolysis
Injection lipolysis involves subcutaneous injection into the widow's hump. Substances injected under the skin have the property of thinning and dissolving fatty deposits, which allows them to be more easily broken down by the metabolic process and then excreted from the body. The injection lipolysis procedure is considered a much less invasive method of liposuction. It works great for removing localized fat and excess tissue.
With its help, it is possible to remove 2 to 5 cm of fat, which is exactly the amount of fat usually occupied by a widow's hump. Among the advantages of lipolysis are the relatively low cost, the additional skin tension at the injection site, the speed of execution and the patient's comfort level during the procedure.
LPG Endermologie
Endermologie, also known as vacuum massage, is one of the most recommended treatments for buffalo hump, right next to liposuction and kinesitherapy. **It can get rid of excess fatty tissue from the affected area, reshape it and smooth it out.
In addition, it helps reduce muscle and back pain associated with postural defects. Endermologie is performed in a special suit using a head that is applied to the patient's body. The head sucks in fat tissue and massages it with the help of two rollers positioned opposite each other. This kind of impact on the skin stimulates it to renew itself, breaks down fat deposits and facilitates the removal of fat cells from the body. The procedure is completely painless and pleasant for the patient.
Conclusion
A widow's hump is more than just a cosmetic issue—it impacts posture, mobility, and health. It often develops from inactivity, poor habits, and underlying medical conditions, but there are effective solutions. Treatments like therapeutic massage, kinesitherapy, liposuction, and injection lipolysis can significantly reduce or eliminate it. Early diagnosis and taking action are essential, whether through lifestyle changes or specialized interventions. Don’t ignore the signs—addressing the issue promptly can lead to long-term relief and better overall well-being.
