Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate the progression of Cobb's angle of middle school students according to the Risser grade changes during a one-year follow up period, and to identify the prevalence rate and related factors regarding scoliosis.
METHOD
A total of 2,124 middle school students were preliminarily screened by the Adam's forward bending test. Among them, 21 adolescents diagnosed with scoliosis (above 5Cobb's angle) by X-Raying were the subjects and followed up for checking Cobb's angle and the Risser grade for one year.
RESULTS
The overall prevalence of scoliosis in middle school students was 2.13% and the prevalence in girls was higher than in boys. The Cobb's angle was significantly high in seniors and girls. The cases in low angle and low Risser grade demonstrated significant changes in progressive Cobb's angle compared to the cases in high angle and high Risser grade after one-year. But gender and pattern of curvature were not significantly different from the changes scoliosis angle after one-year.
CONCLUSION
Based on these study results, juniors in low Risser grade were inclined to aggravate scoliosis despite the low degree of curvature at the first measurement.