Adam’s sign – What is the purpose, indication and relevance?

Adam’s Sign: Client is standing and flexes forward at the waist allowing hands to drop toward ground.

Purpose:

• Assess whether scoliosis is functional or structural

Indications:

• Scoliosis

Relevance:

• Positive test for functional scoliosis – spinal curvature straightens out and there is no evidence of rib humping
• Positive test for structural scoliosis – spinal curvature does not straighten out during forward bend

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This post was written by Omar Rifai