My mother has a hump in the upper part of her back. She said her upper back hurts constantly because of it. Her mother also had the same problem. Is there any way I can avoid this, or am I genetically destined to end up with a hump like hers?

Kyphosis, or dowager’s hump, is associated with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is thinning of the bones associated with aging, which can be hereditary. The bones in the back become thin, and areas of weakness compress the spine bones into the form of a wedge. These are called compression fractures and can be quite painful. Lots of things can be done to prevent and treat osteoporosis, but the earlier you act the better. Talk to your health care provider about this. It is much easier to maintain bone than to rebuild it once it’s lost.