Scoliosis is the abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. Screening may include the following assessments:
– Shoulder height (top of Scapula) asymmetry
– Hip height (Illiac crest) asymmetry
– Adam’s forward bend test
– Thoracic spine in the horizontal plane
– Lumbar spine in the horizontal plane
In the Adam’s forward bend test, subject bends forward by flexing spine with feet together, knees extended, and arms hanging, in above two positions. The examiner looks from behind, along the horizontal plane of the column vertebrae in each position and looks for abnormalities such as spinal asymmetry, unlevel shoulders, scapula asymmetry, unlevel hips, head not inline with pelvis or rib hump. An increase or decrease of lordosis/kyphosis can also be a sign for scoliosis. The rotation deformity or rib hump can be measured with a scoliometer.
Physiopedia contributors (2018). Adam’s Forward Bend Test. Physio-pedia.com. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Animian A (2012). Scoliosis Screening. YouTube. Accessed 20 May 2018.
AAFP (2018). USPSTF: Evidence Lacking on Scoliosis Screening in Kids, Teens. AAFP.org Accessed 20 May 2018.