Scoliosis is a disorder in which there is a sideways curve of the spine, or backbone.
Scoliosis (spinal) screening is required by Texas Department of Health Rules.
School-based spinal screening helps to identify students with abnormal spinal curves and refer them for appropriate follow-up by their primary care physician. Screening can detect scoliosis at an early stage when the curve is mild and may go unnoticed. Early detection is the key to controlling spinal deformities.
The State of Texas enacted a new spinal screening schedule, effective beginning with the 2018-19 school year. Girls will be screened two times, once at age 10 (or the fall semester of grade 5) and again at age 12 (or the fall semester of grade 7). Boys will be screened one time at age 13 or 14 (or the fall semester of grade 8).
Screening Process
For scoliosis, each student is observed from the front, side and back: (a) while standing straight, and (b) while gradually bending forward, with the arms hanging down and palms touching, as if diving into a pool. The screener looks for head misalignment to one side of the cleft in the buttocks; one shoulder or hip higher than the other; a prominence of the rib cage or the small of the back; unequal distance between arms and body; and a curve in the spine.
