Abstract
Objective The present study aims to analyze the use of shoulder imbalance as a parameter for
scoliosis screening as well as its relationship with other parameters of physical
examination.
Methods This study assesses a smartphone application that analyzes several parameters of
the physical examination in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Medical and non-medical
examiners applied the screening tool in students in a public school and in a private
sports club. After data collection, interobserver correlation was done to verify shoulder
imbalance and to compare shoulder imbalance with Adam's bending test and with trunk
rotation.
Results Eighty-nine participants were examined, 18 of whom were women and 71 of whom were
men. Two subjects were excluded from the analysis. The mean age of subjects from the
public school was 11.30 years and, for those from the sports club, it was 11.92 years.
The examiners had poor-to-slight interobserver concordance on shoulder asymmetry in
the anterior and posterior view. No significant statistical correlation was found
between shoulder asymmetry and positive Adam's forward bending test.
Conclusion Our preliminary study shows that the shoulder asymmetry has a poor correlation with
the Adam's forward bending test and measuring trunk rotation using a scoliometer.
Therefore, the use of shoulder imbalance might not be useful for idiopathic scoliosis
screening.
Level of Evidence III; Diagnostic Study
Keywords congenital abnormalities - public health - spine - scoliosis - mass screening
