Adams Forward Bend Test
Other Names
- Forward Bend Test
- Adam's Forward Bend Test
Purpose
- Evaluate for structural or functional Scoliosis
- This is performed by exaggerating the curve or making it more apparent
Description
- Patient removes shirt, provider stands behind patient
- The physician should observe for any asymmetries of the spin
- The patient then bends forward until the back is in the horizontal plane
- Note, arms hanging with legs fully extended, head in neutral
- The physician observes for asymmetries along the plane of the spine
Pathology
Evidence
- Cobb Angle > 10°
- Sensitivity: 84.3%[3]
- Specificity: 93.44%
- Cobb Angle > 40° [4]
- Sensitivity: 0.83
- Specificity: 0.99
- Inter-examiner agreement is moderate in the thoracic spine, poor in the lumbar spine [5]
See Also
References
- ↑ Altaf, Farhaan, et al. "Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis." Bmj 346 (2013).
- ↑ Image courtesy of physio-study.com/, "Adam’s Forward Bend Test"
- ↑ T Karachalios, J Sofianos, N Roidis, G Sapkas, D Korres, K Nikolopoulos. 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 1999; 24(22):2318-24 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10586455
- ↑ CJ Goldberg, FE Dowling, EE Fogarty, DP Moore. School scoliosis screening and the United States Preventive Services Task Force. An examination of long-term results. Spine 1995; 20(12):1368-74 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7676334 (accessed 26 November 2011) Level of evidence: A2
- ↑ /P. Côté, B. Kreitz, JD Cassidy, AK Dzus, J. Martel. A study of the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the scoliometer and Adam’s forward bend test. Spine 1998; 1;23(7):796-802 http://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/1998/04010/A__Study_of_the_Diagnostic_Accuracy_and.11.aspx
Created by:
John Kiel on 21 July 2019 22:07:35
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Last edited:
27 October 2025 23:20:57
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