• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.13-16
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The Fukuda test can be used at home and in school to diagnose scoliosis at an early stage and prevent serious curvature of the spine. This study aimed to use the Fukuda test to detect scoliosis. An additional aim was to invoke the national interest in imbalanced postures and habits, which result in scoliosis, by providing data obtained in periodic assessments. METHODS: The study consisted of 35 idiopathic scoliosis patients (22 in right lumbar spinal region and 13 in the left lumbar spinal region). The distance of displacement and angle of displacement were measured following the Fukuda test. A correlation analysis was then used to examine the distance of displacement and angles of displacement and rotation with regard to the direction of the curve in scoliosis. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation (p<0.00) between the direction of the curve in scoliosis and the angle of displacement, but there was no correlation between the cobb's angle and distance of displacement or between the cobb's angle and angle of rotation. CONCLUSION: The Fukuda test did not capture changes in spinal curvature such as the cobb's angle, or subsequent changes in the muscles. Thus, the Fukuda test is not suited to examining the direction or status of the thoracic curve in scoliosis patients. Simple methods to objectively measure scoliosis need to be developed.