School-Screening for Scoliosis

Screening for scoliosis was conducted on 468 male and female students from two junior high schools ( from the first through third grades). The forward bending test method was used by the physical therapist, and younger subjects were checked rigorously. Incidence of scoliosis detected by screening was 14.5% in 1st and 2nd graders and 2.7% in 3rd graders. Furthermore, X-rays showed that the Cobb angle was more than 15 degrees in .66 % of the subjects. These results were consistent with what the prevalent literature reports. According to many authors, detected incidence is changed by raising the cut-off point, there by detecting only the more serious cases. Idiopathic scoliosis is a multifactorial disease. We think that screening should detect not only severe cases, but also less serious ones. In this way, those with slight illness can get care fitting their case. As a secondary effect of this screening, the community was educated on the importance of early detection of idiopathic scoliosis and screening. This may help in the prevention of idiopathic scoliosis.