The use of postural analysis as a screening tool for idiopathic scoliosis screenings it vastly under used.  This is particularly unfortunate, because it provides the most sensitive data and earliest spinal curvature detection warnings.  While posture analysis may not be terribly helpful to the untrained observer, it can be an invaluable tool with a few basic tips from the pros.

1.  Limit your focus points.

2.  Evaluating posture is just like eating an elephant; you need to do it one bite at a time just like everything else.  Instead of just gazing across your child’s posture and attempt to take everything in at once, try starting with observing 5 key piece of information.

• Eye line:  Is it level or tilted to one side or the other?

Forward head posture:  Does your child’s ear hole line up with the tip of their shoulder?

Head to hip line: Imagine a line that extends for between your child’s eyes and goes straight down to their hips. 

Does the center of the head line up with the center of their hips?

Anyone of these or a combination of any of these could indicate a spinal curvature in its early stages and should be evaluated by a trained posture analysis expert immediately. 

Be sure to check out our interactive scoliosis posture exercise analysis tool at http://www.treatingscoliosis.com/early-stage.html#

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Projectional distortion of the spine on traditional radiographic (x-rays) evalutation has long been know to be a source of error and uncertainty to the scoliosis clinician.  New 3-D imaging techniques are now demostrating how much and significant that projectional distortion changes the specific features of the scoliotic vertebrea at the apical and junctional zones.  Here is the full study. 

3D_alignment_in_asymptomatics.pdf

"The 3-D values confirm the large interindividual variability and pertinence of the well-established correlations between spinal and pelvic parameters. However, significant differences were found between 3-D and 2-D values. These findings would suggest that caution should be advised when using sagittal radiographs, especially for kyphosis."

"A better understanding of the 3-D aspects of posture will thereby become possible. This preliminary study opens the door to more extensive 3-D referential values, and original 3-D criteria to define posture and balance."