Everything You Need to Know About Rib Humps
'Rib humps' are considered one of the key symptoms of Scoliosis - especially if the curvature(s) are in the Thoracic region of the spine. Rib humps are protrusions of the ribs, and are more visible when a person is bent over (flexing their spine). There are essentially four different curvature patterns in Scoliosis: Thoracic, Lumbar, Thoracolumbar, and Combined (mine is combined). From what I've learned in anatomy class, the spine has 33 bones, and 24 of them are vertebrae. There are fundamentally three different sections of vertebrae. The top region of the spine is called the Cervical Spine, which is composed of seven vertebrae (the red part in the figure below), and is mainly responsible for head and neck movements. The middle part of the spine is called the Thoracic Spine, which is composed of 12 vertebrae and supports the majority of your body weight (the blue part in the figure below). The last region of your vertebrae is called the Lumbar Spine, which is essentially five vertebrae that supports your lower back (the yellow part in the figure below). The Thoracic Spine differs from the other regions of the spine, as your ribs are attached to your Thoracic vertebrae. Thus, any lateral curving in the Thoracic Spine will most often produce a rib hump. The severity of the curve(s) does not necessarily dictate the severity of the rib hump, if you have one.
Types of Scoliosis of the Spine [Diagram]. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.thesleepjudge.com/sleep-tips-for-scoliosis/
Rib humps can impact your body in a variety of ways. The severity of your rib hump often affects the severity of other symptoms you may have. In some cases, if an individual has a very prominent rib hump, their breathing may be affected due to the reduced chest area, they may experience more severe back pain, and they also may find certain movements harder to complete. Do keep in mind that the majority of rib humps caused by Scoliosis are non-life threatening and usually have little to no significant affects on overall health. Most rib humps also aren't that visible either unless you're in spinal flexion (bent over).
In my case, my rib hump isn't the main cause for my back pain, it's more of an aesthetic issue; however, I still find it annoying to say the least. If I wear a fitted or clingy top I sometimes feel self-conscious, and wonder if other people notice my rib hump or not (everyone I've ever asked says they don't notice it until I point it out).
Picture descriptions from left to right: lateral right side view, spinal flexion, and lateral left side view. For the lateral right side view, you may notice a 'crease' below my sports bra - this is due to the rotation of my rib cage. For spinal flexion, I put a red line showing the degree of my rib hump. The lateral left side view basically showcases my rib hump and how you can't see the other side of my back.
In the red shape surrounding the Front Profile X-Ray the ribs appear different on both sides of the spine. My rib hump is in this circled area. In the red shape surrounding the smaller region on the Lateral Profile X-Ray, you can faintly see a dark-grey region just off of the spine, which highlights the back muscles that lay on top of my rib hump.
As you can see, my rib hump is mainly noticeable if you're viewing me from my lateral left side, or when I'm in spinal flexion. Otherwise, from my lateral right side, it's not very noticeable.
Most people have something about their body that they're self-conscious of or may wish they could change; however, I can assure you that the majority of these self-perceived detriments go unnoticed amongst others. If someone happens to ask about something you're self-conscious about, try not to radiate embarrassment or shame - instead, take the moment as an opportunity to educate them.
This blog is my own personal experience and journey with Scoliosis. It is not a medical blog, and if anyone has concerns about their own health, they should see a physician.