Prevalence of Scoliosis among High School Students
Wimonrat Sakullertphasuk MSc*, Chompunoot Suwanasri MSc*, Laddawan Saetang BSc*, Noochjaree Siri BSc*, Pathtarajaree Junsiri BSc*, Siriwan Yotsungnoen BSc*, Phrattaya Phakpakorn BSc*, Meena Tosiriphattana BSc*
Affiliation : * Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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, and Adam’s forward 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 (χ2 = 6.73, p<0.05) with a prevalence ratio (female:male) of 1.70. A significant difference of scoliosis
prevalence was found between school 1 and school 3 (χ2 = 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 in females was higher than in males at a ratio of 1.70. A significant difference was
revealed among schools that might be affected by environmental factors.
Keywords : Scoliosis, Structural scoliosis, Functional scoliosis, Adam’s forward bending test
