Scoliosis examination memories

How many of you have had a scoliosis examination at school ?

Only had one in 7th grade during physical education class. We lined up with our tee shirts removed still wearing our sports bra, backs to the big steel wall that divided our side of the gym from the boys side. As our p.e. teacher called our names we stepped to the center of the gym removed our sports bra and were checked by the school nurse. Unlike a school physicals that was more of a serious perhaps humiliating experience, this was a quick giggly event as we glanced at our class mates doing our topless striptease act.

Scoliosis checks was more of a turn-on for us girls than for the boys who viewed theirs as nothing.

That was about all they checked us for in high school. School nurse came at the start of PE class, where we were lined up in our rows. All boys high school. Thrill = zero

I remember one year all the boys getting lined up at the gym prior to PE. There we were, jr high kids all shapes and sizes in our white PE shorts and matching t shirts lined up assembly line style. There were two scales at one end of the gym and two screened off areas as well. A few names were called out (myself included) to step out of line and wait at the opposie end of the gym. The rest of the boys were instructed to remove their undershirts. So there it was. White PE shorts, shirtless, no socks or sneakers. The boys were weighed, measured and were subsequently sent behind the curtains for a physical examination. I was excused because I had yearly physicals at my own doctor.

I was not entirely off the hook. Then came the fitness testing. How many push ups and sit ups in one minute. A running test, a flexibility test as well as a lower back scoliosis assessment.

Did I feel self conscious or embarrased? Maybe a little because I was short and thin. I just sucked it up and moved on. I grew up in a tough neighborhood. You didn't run home crying. It is good to develope coping mechanisms at an early age.

I guess I passed the tests. My PE teachers gave me a couple of "Good going, attaboys. You're fit enough for hockey season".

The boys who did not fare so well got really pushed hard by the PE teachers during gym class. This one is a weakling, too skinny or too fat. They were singled out and often ostracized. I was underweight but I had determination and endurance. That goes a long way at that age.

One of my classmates was thin, weak and asthmatic. He really got dealt a bad hand but one the PE teachers understood the boy and helped him out after school a few days a week. He instructed the boy about breathing techniques and exercise. I had heard (I left the school) he became a respected member of the cross country team by grade 10.

We we checked in 7th grade. At PE we were told to leave our tee shirts off and line up on one side of the gym in our gym shorts. The girls lined up on the other side of the gym. They were wearing their usual PE uniform, white sleeveless blouses and pleated maroon shorts that zipped up the back. There was a curtained off examining area for the girls. The boys finishing quickly and were sent outside for some touch football. The girls line moved more slowly since the girls had to take off blouses and bras. (We got this information after the fact from some of the girls.) The exams were handled by public health nurses and the PE coaches. In the playground the boys discussed their illusions about what some of the more mature girls looked like without their bras on. The girls got to watch the boys in the awkward position of being examined, but shirtless 7th grade boys is no big deal.

This happened at my school and it was done by a male gym/health teacher. They called it an Intermediate School since the grade configuration was 6th, 7th and 8th grade, 12 to 14 years old. It was sometime between 1970 and 1972.

The girls were all told to wear button down shirts/blouses to school that day. They went into the girls gym locker room took their bras off and put their shirts on backwards so they could be opened to expose their back without exposing their chest. The girls were then taken out into the gym where the male teacher did the examine in an assembly line fashion.

Boys and girls were done as separate groups. He rubbed his fingers down your spine. The boys took their shirts off. I remember looking across the gym where the girls were being examined. The boys were probably playing dodgeball or some other game.

Just as others have already said, I remember it being done in P.E. class. It was done a couple of times prior to entering high school, so likely 6th and maybe 8th grade. Dress as we normally did for P.E. in our shorts and T-shirt, then after roll call we were all instructed to remove our shirts and form one big assembly line for the exam.

I've seen discussions of this before. I don't recall having a scoliosis check at all and certainly not in school.

While I accept and understand these were done in some schools, I fail to understand why it was any of the schools' business. From most accounts, it sounds like many of the checks were done by school staff, not medical professionals.

While I accept and understand these were done in some schools, I fail to understand why it was any of the schools' business.

I think ours were done by the school nurse and/or P.E. teacher. I agree, just like many of the other mandatory things that schools did in the past, it should have been absolutely none of their business. But I suppose they did it in the name of "community service" or "community health".

While I accept and understand these were done in some schools, I fail to understand why it was any of the schools' business.

In Pennsylvania it is the law for 6th graders to be screened, either at their private provider or through the school...

28 PA Code, Chapter 23.10(b) states "A scoliosis screening test shall be administered to students in grade six and grade seven and to age-appropriate students in ungraded classes."

Students are mandated to have a physical examination in sixth grade. A standard physical examination includes a scoliosis screen. Students who have had a sixth grade physical examination completed (whether at their private provider or through the school) may be counted as a completed scoliosis screen. It is not required that the school rescreen these students.

Students who are diagnosed as having scoliosis may be counted as a completed scoliosis screen. It is not recommended that the school rescreen these students.

Link...

http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/School%20Health/Pages/Quick%20Links/Mandated%20School%20Health%20Program/Scoliosis-Screen.aspx#.V9BaCZgrKF4

Like others, I remember it being done during P.E class starting in 6 or 7th grade. The boys dressed for gym shorts and tee shirt. In middle school, we were checked by the nurse and P.E teacher. They checked the roll, then told to remove our shirts. One by one, you would step forward one stood in front and behind you just standing. They checked your shoulder blades and nipples were even. Then told us to bend over was the nurse felt your spine and the other made sure spine was straight.

It was same in high school, it was the athletic trainer and one of the PE teachers.

I do not recall ever having any type of physical examination in school.

I always saw my own physician.

@user264 , Thank you. I grew up in north Texas in the 1960s. I know many things in the schools vaary from state to state.

The exams were done in 6th grade for the girls, and 7th for the boys. When it was my class's turn, we lined up in the gym to the door to one of the side offices in our gym clothes. Boys were called in one-by-one and checked privately. Shirts and shorts came off, but we were allowed modesty in our underwear. Once finished, the boy dressed and exited the room, which meant it was the next person's turn.

As user264 states these exams were mandated by the state and not the school.

I agree medical personnel should preform these checks especially when dealing with opposite sexes. A misunderstanding can lead to some major issues.

Switchablesusie you sound similar to my male mate he never had any type medical exam at school. To be permitted to stand in the school gym topless without getting into trouble still gives me found memories.

As user264 states these exams were mandated by the state and not the school.

Schools were and still are, ideal venues to make sure children of a particular age get a basic medical screening. School attendance being mandatory (though not always so in practice - think homeschooling) this meant that even the poorer kids were given a medical check that could spot diseases or conditions before they worsened into something more serious. Think of all the diseases associated with poverty, bad housing, malnutrition or lack of hygienic amenities.

Catching these things early on in life can go a long way to a better and more healthy life afterwards. It is to everyone's benefit that as many people stay fit and healthy for as long as possible. Once people are out of school, they sort of disperse into the mass of society, not likely to ever be in the same place again together for easy collating or screening.

I do not recall ever having any type of physical examination in school.

I always saw my own physician.

Not all families could or can afford that.

And some families have odd and dismissive ideas about prevention and health as well. That is why virtually world-wide, governments have found it to be in children's and society's best interests to medically screen everyone from as young an age as possible.

"Schools were and still are, ideal venues to make sure children of a particular age get a basic medical screening. School attendance being mandatory (though not always so in practice - think homeschooling) this meant that even the poorer kids were given a medical check that could spot diseases or conditions before they worsened into something more serious. Think of all the diseases associated with poverty, bad housing, malnutrition or lack of hygienic amenities..."

You are in Belgium. You have socialized medicine. Your system is probably not flawless but it works. Here in the USA we are moving towards universal health care but we are going in the wrong direction. American citizens are being strong armed by big government to purchase high deductible and highly expensive health insurance plans. If you don't participate you get find by the IRS. If you meet certain income requirements you can get a government subisdy but most people are not qualified for this subsidy. The end result: Most people end up with no health care coverage and a very expensive fine to boot. My sister is currently in this situation. It is nothing short of a legalized extortion racket. Two major American Health insurance providers (United Health Care and Aetna) are no longer accepting the (UN) affordable health care plan. (AKA MAObamacare).

My advice to any parent is to keep your child's health care needs out of the school system completely. Make no mistake our school systems are nothing short of a very useless appendage of big government. If your insurance covers preventive care and your child is required by law to have a physical at certain grade levels then take your kid to a private doctor, pay the copay and be done with it. You will both be better off. Don't let some barely qualified person fondle your child in school because you are too lazy to take your child to the doctor or too much of a tightwad for a 20 dollar copay.

Children and Money: Two subjects that wil make old WC Fields turn in his grave, agracier.

I recall very well that scoliosis examination was always a part of my school physicals. In spite of the fact that I have never had any problems with my spine, those exams were routine either by a school nurse or a doctor. I think in my country it just include the examination protocol and medical practitioners are therefore eager to follow the rules.

The physicals were always done in private with a doctor. There were no group exams or such. I was instructed to undress down to my underpants right at the beginning of the physical. No socks, just underpants, everything else off! I was weighted and measured and after those parts it was a time for a scoliosis check. I was standing and the doctor was behind me, I was instructed to bend down and touch me toes. I repeated that three or four times. At the same time the doctor looked carefully my movements and my spine. Everything seemed to be okay. It was for sure, one of my favorite parts of the exam!

Our group sports physicals in junior high and high school had a scoliosis check as part of the routine although I don't remember it happening every time. Scoliosis doesn't just happen unlike other health conditions that can occur between annual physicals. I definitely remember it in junior high because it involved us bending over and touching our toes while wearing only briefs. There was an exam station where we got that check although doubt that I knew what scoliosis was then.

We had this at my school. You just pulled your shirt off and bent over. It took place in the nurses office.

The lead up to it was fun. I think we were in the 6th grade. We were told we had to get a scholiosis check. No one knew what that meant. Someone started a rumor that the nurse put a pipe up your ass to see your spine. It made sense to a 12 year old.

Someone went crying and told the teacher. The whole class got a lecture about using our imaginations and not asking questions. Then the school nurse told us the truth about what would happen.

My pediatrician also did the exam yearly. This was much more embarrassing because I was just in my boxer shorts.

OK, understanding these checks were/are mandated in some states in the US, what happened is the coach/nurse thought scoliosis was indicated in a student? How was this information used? Surely it didn't stop there if there was a positive indication.

I had one when I was about six years old from my moms osteopath. I was already stripped to by underwear for a regular exam. He had me stand up straight and then bend over a chair while he ran his hand up and down my spine. Then I had to take off my underwear and walk down the hallway while he observed. It was a small office so no one saw me but him and mom.

We were told we had to get a scholiosis check. No one knew what that meant. Someone started a rumor that the nurse put a pipe up your ass to see your spine. It made sense to a 12 year old.

Someone went crying and told the teacher. The whole class got a lecture about using our imaginations and not asking questions. .

Ha ha ha ha ... Utterly hilarious ... and I can see it happening in my mind with some of the morons I went to school with too. That would be a great laughing out loud scene to use in a movie, say something along the lines of 'Superbad' ... 😃 😃

Swear on my life, every year from fifth to eighth grade, the guys were checked in the women's locker room and the girl's were checked in the guys' locker room. We never questioned it but now it makes absolutely no sense. The rooms were the same, so it's not like one offered more or less privacy.

I've had scoliosis exams at school and at my primary care provider since I was in fifth grade. Never topless, though. I was asked to get to my bottom layer, so I was usually in a t-shirt or a cami. I'm actually fairly bitter because I've known since I was in second grade that I had scoliosis. I would have pain going down my right leg constantly, and my lower back had the feeling it was setting on fire. But no one believed me. The scoliosis checks were too quick and superficial to catch it, but I have a curve in my spine that sits on my sciatic nerve. It took until I was in tenth grade for someone to take me seriously and check it out.

That is truly sad ok school exams are superficial however your private physician should have picked up on it with the pain issue. To do a proper check the back has to be fully exposed can not be performed with a shirt or cami covering.

It was usually the same time my backside was getting checked, so I was already nude, and she would part my cheeks and take a look after I had bent over and she checked out my spine.

The check of the spine was always a routine part of the mandatory school physicals.

I assume that it was mentioned in the medical protocole to follow by the doctors.

Anyway I have a check of my spine each year of school at middle and high school.

It was one of the checks during the examination which were performed very seriously and it lasted what seemed to me a long time.

At middle school, it was performed while I was still wearing a brief but at high school from 14- age to 17-age, I was stark naked in front of the doctor who was a woman doctor, and the female nurse and also during two years a young female student nurse assisting to our physical examination during her training course in the nurse'office of the school.

I was instructed to turn around and to look straight ahead with hands on my sides and the doctor patted slowly my back on a few spots and made her finger slide along my spine until the beginning of the cleft of my buttocks, then I was instructed to bend over until my ankles, and she did the same checks, I had to stand up straight again and to bend over again three times, the doctor and the nurse were looking to my back and spine and checking my move. with the fingers of the doctor on my back one time.

After that, I was then instructed to walk until the wall of the exam room and to stand up face to the wall and then to bend over again and to repeat it three times.

Only when It was finished, I could come again in front of the doctor.

I had a slight lordosis which was less serious than a scoliosis but nevertheless I presume that it could be a reason for why this exam lasted so long, it was mentioned on my medical form and in the letter adressed to my parents for the family doctor.

We had only at middle school at 13 age a check for scoliosis performed apart of the physical examination which took place at the nurse'office.

It was performed in the gym with all the class of 25 boys ( boys only in the school; art that time), there was the school nurse present and our male Pe teacher with the chief of the sport department of the school, and the check was conducted by an other female nurse more aged who was coming in our school especially for that exam and was working in the education and health department of the school district.

We were instructed by the Pe teachers to undress until our white briefs and to line up in the center of the gym and we were called one by one to be checked, it was almost the same exam than during the physical examination but we were not naked, when we were standing back to them, we were just instructed to pull down our brief a little to let them see the lower side of our back, in fact as some boys were reluctant to pull enough their brief down, we were quickly instructed to pull it down at least until the middle of our butts, it was more easy for them than to repeat permanently "lower".

it was a little embarrassing because of the presence of the Pe teachers and the other students but it lasted not so long as during our yearly physical examination at the nurse's office.

We had them in our middle school. The nurse conducted them in her office.

Yes I remember having this in middle school. It was required that a nurse look at all the kid's backs. I was embarrassed taking off my shirt, and standing there in my bra. I remember seeing shirtless classmates and being embarrassed at the sight of their bras.