Prevalence of Scoliosis among High School Students.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to survey the prevalence of scoliosis in Thai high school students. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Physical therapists assessed the postural alignment in three planes during standing position by observation, palpation, andAdam lforward bending test. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy-four high school students (297 males and 77 females) were recruited from three schools in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. The prevalence of scoliosis was 22.7%. A significant difference was observed between sex and scoliosis prevalence (chi2 = 6.73, p<0.05) with a prevalence ratio (female:male) of 1.70. A significant difference of scoliosis prevalence wasfound between school 1 andschool 3 (chi2 = 4.33, p<0.05) with a ratio of 1.74. Most scoliosis levels were found at the thoracolumbar level. The assessments of 84.7% for waist form, 76.5% for scapular border and 71.8% for thoracic scoliosis were the most common anomaly of postural alignment in the scoliosis group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of scoliosis infemales was higher than in males at a ratio of 1.70. A significant difference was revealed among schools that might be affected by environmentalfactors.

The Adaptive Patterns of Pelvic Alignment in Individuals with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the adaptive pattern of pelvic alignment and to determine the correlations between pelvic alignment and Angle of Trunk Rotation (ATR) of each curve type in individuals with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). MATERIAL AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study of 31 AIS subjects was divided according to single or double curve patterns. Demographic data and A TR were collected. Five-view photos were shot before using Scion Image Software to calculate pelvic alignment. Independent t-test was used to compare pelvic alignment between groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to identify the correlation between pelvic alignment and ATR. RESULTS: The subjects with single and double curves, showed significant difference in the right sagittal and transverse planes (p = 0.021). The double-curve group showed significant negative correlation of anterior-pelvic-obliquity and ATR (p = 0.037), significant positive correlations of left-pelvic-tilt and ATR (p = 0.021), and right-pelvic-tilt and ATR (p = 0.005). The major-curve group showed significant negative correlation of anterior-pelvic-obliquity and ATR (p = 0.014), significant positive correlation of right-pelvic-tilt and ATR (p = 0.021), and top-pelvic-rotation and ATR (P = 0.032). The near-pelvis-curve group showed only significant negative correlation ofanterior-pelvic-obliquity and ATR (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Both AIS groups showed different pelvic tilt and rotation. ATR showed the correlation with pelvic tilt and obliquity in double-curve group only. A larger curve influenced the pelvic-spinal rotation relationship more than the near-pelvic-curve. Thus, awareness ofpelvic alignment in AIS assessment and treatment is recommended.