[Medical Q&A] How can I check if my child has scoliosis myself?

Author: Wang Chen, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University

Reviewer: Chen Huajiang, Chief Physician, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that is not straight, causing it to deviate from its normal position. This condition can affect your child's posture and health. Here are some simple ways to check for it yourself.

1. The most intuitive inspection is to look: ask boys to take off their shirts and girls to wear only underwear, fully expose their backs, put their legs together, and let their hands hang naturally on both sides of the body. When parents observe their children from behind, if there is scoliosis, they may have the following manifestations.

(1) Spinal curvature with thoracic or lumbar asymmetry.

(2) The shoulders or shoulder blades are not of the same height.

(3) The waistline is asymmetrical.

(4) When the arms hang naturally, the distance between them and the torso is asymmetrical.

(5) The head is tilted to one side and not centered over the sacrum, sometimes called “trunk deviation.” If there is no trunk deviation, a plumb line through the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra should pass through the gluteal groove.

2. Do a forward flexion test: If no obvious abnormalities mentioned above are found when observing from the back, you can also let the child bend 90° and do a forward flexion test.

The specific method is: the child puts his feet together, straightens his knees, lets his arms hang naturally, bends forward until his spine is parallel to the horizontal plane, and then the parents observe the child from behind. If one side of the chest (ribs) or waist bulges, it is a sign of scoliosis.

If the child is suspected of scoliosis after the above examinations, he/she needs to go to the hospital for further examination to evaluate the degree of scoliosis in detail. Usually, it is necessary to take an anteroposterior and lateral X-ray of the entire spine to help with the evaluation.

Note: ① Ensure that there is sufficient light during the examination to ensure clear observation; ② Perform multiple examinations to ensure accurate results; ③ If you suspect that your child has scoliosis, take your child to the hospital as soon as possible for professional examination and diagnosis.