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Diagnosis

The process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury based on the signs and symptoms a patient is having and the patient's health history and physical exam. Further testing, such as blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies, is done after a clinical diagnosis is made.

Filling Out a Medical Form

DIY TESTS
TO CONFIRM
SPINE CURVATURE
DISCREPANCY

The Wall Test

  1. To do this easy test, all you need is a wall.

  2. Stand with your feet flat on the ground, with your heels about 6 inches away from the wall.

  3. Put your back flat against the wall.

  4. Then place your head against the wall as well, and tuck in your chin.

  5. Raise your arms out to shoulder height and bend your elbows. The tips of your fingers will be pointing forward, and your elbows will be straight out from your shoulders.

  6. Now rotate your arms upward at the elbows, keeping them bent, and try to touch the back of your wrists to the wall.

  7. If your back arches, or you can’t get your wrists to touch the wall, that indicates poor posture.

Adam's Forward Bending Test

  1. The patient takes off his/her t-shirt so that the spine is visible.

  2. The patient needs to bend forward, starting at the waist until the back comes in the horizontal plane, with the feet together, arms hanging and the knees in extension. The palms are held together.

  3. The examiner stands at the back of the patient and looks along the horizontal plane of the spine, searching for abnormalities of the spinal curve, like increased or decreased lordosis/ kyphosis, and an asymmetry of the trunk.

For Clinical Diagnosis

Kyphosis

  • Physical Assessment 

  • Neurological Assessment - includes the person having pain, tingling, numbness, muscle spasms or weakness, sensations in the arms or legs or changes in bowel or bladder control.

  • X-Rays - can usually confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause of the kyphosis.

  • Blood Tests

  • CT scan

  • MRI scan

Lordosis

  • Physical Assessment 

  • Neurological Assessment - includes the person having pain, tingling, numbness, muscle spasms or weakness, sensations in the arms or legs or changes in bowel or bladder control.

  • X-Rays - can usually confirm the diagnosis.

Scoliosis 

  • Physical Assessment 

  • Neurological Assessment - includes the person having pain, tingling, numbness, muscle spasms or weakness, sensations in the arms or legs or changes in bowel or bladder control.

  • X-Rays - can usually confirm the diagnosis.

  • The curve is measured by the Cobb Method and is diagnosed in terms of severity by the number of degrees.

  • Ultrasound

  • CT or CAT scan

  • MRI scan

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