title: The evaluation of dorsal asymmetry in children and adolescents: ten years' follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study is a retrospective and prospective analysis of the results of examinations of children for the occurrence of dorsal asymmetry carried out ten years ago and repeated recently.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 100 children and adolescents aged 4-16 years, including 58 girls and 42 boys, was examined initially in 1997 and then re-examined after 10 years (at the age of 14-26). The clinical assessment (Adam's test) was performed each time by the same examiner, the 1st author of this study, using the same methodology and in the same conditions. A Rippstein plurimeter was used for the examination, with differences of 2 degrees or more being regarded as a sign of asymmetry. The prevalence of particular types of dorsal asymmetry was calculated separately for girls and boys, and these results were compared statistically using the squared Chi test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of back asymmetry had increased by the time of the second examination, especially the type Th-L sin, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.005). The prevalence of type Th dex- L sin asymmetry had also increased, but the difference was not statistically significant. A statistically significant decrease in prevalence was found for the type Th dex. The prevalence of double-arch and single-arch asymmetry was found to have increased in both genders. The difference between first and second examinations was statistically significant for double-arch asymmetry (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. The prevalence of slight dorsal asymmetries increased as the children grew older. 2. The location of dorsal asymmetry often changes after puberty. 3. The 2nd examination showed significant asymmetry indicating scoliosis among some children and adolescents with minor asymmetry observed in the 1st examination.
authors: Neurological Rehabilitation Department, Regional Specialised Hospital in Częstochowa. kluszcztroniny@op.pl
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Kluszczyński
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Czernicki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006803:Human Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities*