title: Can the adapted arcometer be used to assess the vertebral column in children?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The adapted arcometer has been validated for use in adults. However, its suitability for use in children can be questioned given the structural differences present in these populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To verify the concurrent validity, repeatability, and intra- and inter-reproducibility of the adapted arcometer for the measurement of the angles of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty children were evaluated using both sagittal radiography of the spine and the adapted arcometer. The evaluations using the arcometer were carried out by two trained evaluators on two different days. In the statistical treatment, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson's product moment correlation, Spearman's rho, the paired t test, and Wilcoxon's test were used (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A moderate and significant correlation was found between the x-ray and the adapted arcometer regarding thoracic kyphosis, but no correlation was found regarding lumbar lordosis. Repeatability and intra-evaluator reproducibility of the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were confirmed, which was not the case of inter-evaluator reproducibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adapted arcometer can be used to accompany postural alterations in children made by the same evaluator, while its use for diagnostic purposes and continued evaluation by different evaluators cannot be recommended. Further studies with the aim of adapting this instrument for use in children are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sedrez
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Candotti
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria I Z
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jefferson F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Loss
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results