Mission Personal Injury Medical Clinic, PA
Screening Tests

Scoliosis Diagnosis: The Adams Forward Bend Test Back Clinic

The Adams forward bend test is a simple screening method that can help with scoliosis diagnosis and help in developing a treatment plan. The exam is named after the English physician William Adams. As part of an examination, a doctor or chiropractor will look for an abnormal side-to-side bend in the spine.

Scoliosis Diagnosis

  • The Adams forward-bend test can help determine if there are indicators for scoliosis.
  • It is not an official diagnosis, but the results can be used as a starting point.
  • The test is done with school-age children between 10 and 18 to detect adolescent idiopathic scoliosis or AIS.
  • A positive test is a noticeable asymmetry in the ribs with a forward bend.
  • It can detect scoliosis in any part of the spine, especially in the thoracic middle and upper back.
  • The test is not only for kids; scoliosis can develop at any age, so it is also effective for adults.

Adams Forward Bend Test

The test is quick, easy, and painless.

  • The examiner will check to see if anything is uneven when standing straight.
  • Then the patient will be asked to bend forward.
  • The patient is asked to stand with their legs together, facing away from the examiner.
  • Then patients bend forward from the waist, with arms hanging vertically downward.
  • The examiner uses a scoliometer-like level to detect asymmetries within the spine.
  • Deviations are called the Cobb angle.

The Adams test will reveal signs of scoliosis and/or other potential deformities like:

  • Uneven shoulders
  • Uneven hips
  • Lack of symmetry between the vertebrae or the shoulder blades.
  • The head does not line up with a rib hump or the pelvis.

Detection of Other Spinal Issues

The test can also be used to find spinal curvature issues and conditions like:

  • Kyphosis or hunchback, where the upper back is bent forward.
  • Scheuermann’s disease is a form of kyphosis where the thoracic vertebrae can grow unevenly during a growth spurt and cause the vertebrae to develop into a wedge-like shape.
  • Congenital spine conditions that cause an abnormal curve of the spine.

Confirmation

The Adams test by itself is not enough to confirm scoliosis.

  • A standing X-ray with Cobb angle measurements above 10 degrees is required for diagnosing scoliosis.
  • The Cobb angle determines which vertebrae are tilted the most.
  • The higher the angle, the more severe the condition and the more probable it will produce symptoms.
  • Computed tomography or CT and magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scans can also be used.

Forward Bend Test


References

Glavaš, Josipa et al. “The role of school medicine in the early detection and management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.” Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 1–9. 4 Oct. 2022, doi:10.1007/s00508-022-02092-1

Grossman, T W et al. “An evaluation of the Adams forward bend test and the scoliometer in a scoliosis school screening setting.” Journal of pediatric orthopedics vol. 15,4 (1995): 535-8. doi:10.1097/01241398-199507000-00025

Letts, M et al. “Computerized ultrasonic digitization in the measurement of spinal curvature.” Spine vol. 13,10 (1988): 1106-10. doi:10.1097/00007632-198810000-00009

Senkoylu, Alpaslan, et al. “A simple method for assessing rotational flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: modified Adam’s forward bending test.” Spine deformity vol. 9,2 (2021): 333-339. doi:10.1007/s43390-020-00221-2

General Disclaimer, Licenses and Board Certifications *

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Scoliosis Diagnosis: The Adams Forward Bend Test Back Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic & Wellness Blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a Multi-State board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those on this site and on our family practice-based chiromed.com site, focusing on naturally restoring health for patients of all ages.

Our areas of multidisciplinary practice include  Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.

Our information scope is multidisciplinary, focusing on musculoskeletal and physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somato-visceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for musculoskeletal injuries or disorders.

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We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Multidisciplinary Licensing & Board Certifications:

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in
Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License #: TX5807, Verified: TX5807
New Mexico DC License #: NM-DC2182, Verified: NM-DC2182

Multi-State Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN*) in Texas & Multi-States 
Multi-state Compact APRN License by Endorsement (42 States)
Texas APRN License #: 1191402, Verified: 1191402 *
Florida APRN License #: 11043890, Verified:  APRN11043890 *
License Verification Link: Nursys License Verifier
* Prescriptive Authority Authorized

ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)


Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST

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Licenses and Board Certifications:

DC: Doctor of Chiropractic
APRNP: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 
FNP-BC: Family Practice Specialization (Multi-State Board Certified)
RN: Registered Nurse (Multi-State Compact License)
CFMP: Certified Functional Medicine Provider
MSN-FNP: Master of Science in Family Practice Medicine
MSACP: Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Practice
IFMCP: Institute of Functional Medicine
CCST: Certified Chiropractic Spinal Trauma
ATN: Advanced Translational Neutrogenomics

Memberships & Associations:

TCA: Texas Chiropractic Association: Member ID: 104311
AANP: American Association of Nurse Practitioners: Member  ID: 2198960
ANA: American Nurse Association: Member ID: 06458222 (District TX01)
TNA: Texas Nurse Association: Member ID: 06458222

NPI: 1205907805

National Provider Identifier

Primary Taxonomy Selected Taxonomy State License Number
No 111N00000X - Chiropractor NM DC2182
Yes 111N00000X - Chiropractor TX DC5807
Yes 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family TX 1191402
Yes 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family FL 11043890
Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP

Welcome to our El Paso Back Clinic's multidisciplinary blog, Bienvenidos. We focus on treating severe spinal disabilities and injuries. We also treat complex personal injuries, sciatica, neck and back pain, whiplash, headaches, knee injuries, sports injuries, dizziness, poor sleep, and arthritis. We use proven advanced therapies that aim to improve movement, posture, overall health, and fitness, as well as treat long-term health issues and body structure. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols, Functional Medicine programs for acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans," Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Our rehabilitation facilities offer physical therapy programs and protocols to triage, assess, diagnose, and treat complex clinical injuries and assist in the progressive healing processes. We offer advanced telemedicine to provide all our family practice and injured patients with clinical convenience, including medication distribution, medication drop shipping, durable medical equipment deliveries, medically integrated wearables, and home-based diagnostic assessment tools. Our live, up-to-date "Telemedicine Integrations" allow us to offer interactive and direct ways to monitor, assess, and adjust to our patients' clinical presentations and final recovery outcomes. Ultimately, we are here to serve our patients and community as premier Chiropractors, Family Practice Nurse Practitioners and medical providers passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility and true restored health. Blessings/Bendiciones! Connect! Call Today: 915-850-0900

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