Spinal osteochondrosis was first described by a German, Doctor Scheuermann, in 1920. He called it juvenile kyphosis because it was characterised by a rounded back in teenagers. It was subsequently called osteochondritis because it was thought to be inflammatory in nature, but this was proved wrong and the name is now osteochondrosis (osteo - bone, chondo - cartilage, and osis - degeneration). Although we do not know the exact cause of the spinal disorder we do know that it leads to a disturbed pattern of growth commencing just prior to puberty; that the shape of the vertebrae becomes distorted leading to a wedge shaped vertebral body which in turn gives rise to the rounded back (kyphosis). If wedging occurs on one side the effect is to cause a curvature of the spine (scoliosis). The faulty growth involves the cartilage from which the bone grows and the cartilage of the intervertebral disc becomes distorted too . . . the affected segments remain stiff and vulnerable for the rest of the individual's life. Despite this statement the condition is not a disease in the pathological sense and it does not shorten life but such spines are more easily damaged by mechanical forces and they undergo degenerative changes at an earlier age than normal spines do.

(Dr Alan Stoddard, Talk Back, National Back Pain Association, January 1985, p3)