Scoliosis screening used to be standard in schools; the child would bend forward at the waist and be examined for signs like uneven shoulders, ribs or hips.
But in Canada, scoliosis screening in schools stopped decades ago.
When it was done in schools by people who weren’t fully trained, surgeons said it sometimes led to an overcalling of scoliosis and referring kids for X-rays unnecessarily.
In an email to CBC News, Jean Ouellet, president of the Canadian Pediatrics Spine Society, said that the organization is pushing to increase early detection and raise awareness of scoliosis.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force previously had “no recommendation” for scoliosis screening and changed that in 2018 to say there isn’t enough evidence for it to have a recommendation.
Relevant portion on history:
Scoliosis screening used to be standard in schools; the child would bend forward at the waist and be examined for signs like uneven shoulders, ribs or hips.
But in Canada, scoliosis screening in schools stopped decades ago.
When it was done in schools by people who weren’t fully trained, surgeons said it sometimes led to an overcalling of scoliosis and referring kids for X-rays unnecessarily.
In an email to CBC News, Jean Ouellet, president of the Canadian Pediatrics Spine Society, said that the organization is pushing to increase early detection and raise awareness of scoliosis.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force previously had “no recommendation” for scoliosis screening and changed that in 2018 to say there isn’t enough evidence for it to have a recommendation.