Physical Exam

Scoliosis Assessment

also known as Adams forward bend test

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Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

With the patient standing, feet together and facing away from you, inspect the back at rest for shoulder, scapular, and pelvic symmetry and any lateral curve. Then ask the patient to bend forward at the waist with the knees straight and the arms hanging freely toward the floor, and view the back tangentially from behind and from the side. The positive finding is an asymmetric prominence on one side (a rib hump or paravertebral fullness); a scoliometer placed across the back at the point of maximum asymmetry measures the angle of trunk rotation.

How to Interpret

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Asymmetric prominence (rib hump or paravertebral fullness) on Adam's forward-bend test, with the angle of trunk rotation measured by scoliometer

Rule in

Very helpful

Rule out

Somewhat helpful

Evidence:Limited

References

Dunn J, Henrikson NB, Morrison CC, Blasi PR, Nguyen M, Lin JS. Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2018;319(2):173-187. PMID 29318283. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11669.
Adams W. Lectures on the Pathology and Treatment of Lateral and Other Forms of Curvature of the Spine. London: J & A Churchill; 1865.