AN EVALUATION OF THE ADAMS FORWARD BEND TEST AND THE SCOLIOMETER IN ASCOLIOSIS SCHOOL SCREENING SETTING

We examined the ability of the Adams forward test and the scoliometer to detect truncal rotation or asymmetry in a school screening setting. Of 954 sixth graders examined with each test independently, 123 and 1 3 [using an angle of trunk rotation (ATR) of >5 and 7 degrees, respect ively] were found to be abnormal on scoliometer examination but appear ed normal on the Adams test. Se lecting children for scoliometer exami nation on the basis of the Adams test is not supported by our data and may not be consistent with generally accepted principles of public he alth screening.