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 with the feet together and facing away from you, ask the patient to bend forward at the waist until the back is approximately horizontal, keeping the knees straight and the arms hanging freely. From behind, inspect the thoracic and lumbar contours for asymmetric prominence on one side. A positive forward-bend test is asymmetric thoracic or lumbar prominence. If a scoliometer is used, while the patient remains forward-bent, center it over the spinous processes perpendicular to the spine and move it along the thoracic and lumbar regions to identify and record the greatest angle of trunk rotation.

How to Interpret

Scoliosis

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Asymmetric thoracic or lumbar prominence with scoliometer-measured angle of trunk rotation

Rule in

Very helpfulDerived CI

Rule out

Somewhat helpfulDerived CI

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.
Karachalios T, Sofianos J, Roidis N, Sapkas G, Korres D, Nikolopoulos K. Ten-year follow-up evaluation of a school screening program for scoliosis. Is the forward-bending test an accurate diagnostic criterion for the screening of scoliosis? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1999;24(22):2318-2324. PMID: 10586455.
Adams W. Lectures on the Pathology and Treatment of Lateral and Other Forms of Curvature of the Spine. London: J & A Churchill; 1865.

Research last updated September 10, 2026.