Hormone Therapy Can Help Reduce Spine Curvature

Researchers have found that hormone therapy use is associated with a reduction in the risk of vertebral fracture. This study reinforces those findings suggesting the same benefits may also guard against women’s risk of developing hyperkyphosis, which is an exaggerated curvature of the spine that creates a forward stooped posture, and is associated with poor physical function, increased risk of falls and fractures, and earlier mortality, as published in the journal of The North American Menopause Society.

Significant declines in estrogen that can be experienced during menopause transition can contribute to accelerated bone loss. With hormone therapy use during the first three years has been shown that bone density increases steadily and then becomes maintained with continued use. Since hormone therapy has been shown to be able to reverse bone loss and helps to prevent against fractures, it was hypothesized that hormone therapy may be effective in helping to prevent exaggerated spine curvature which is associated with hyperkyphosis, bone loss, and vertebral fractures.

Upwards of 9,700 women 65 years and older were evaluated over a 15 year time frame. Women who reported continuous or remote past hormone therapy use had less pronounced kyphosis by the time they had reached their mid 80’s as compared to women who had never used hormone therapy, which supports debate for hormone therapy use as a possible early postmenopause treatment for women concerned with posture and fracture risk.

The women who reported early use of hormone therapy were observed to be less likely to develop age related kyphosis. Protective benefits of hormone therapy continued even after stopping treatment, supporting benefits of prescribing hormone therapy close to menopause according to the researchers.