Practitioner Guide—Recognising & Referring Scoliosis in Primary Care

Primary care clinicians are often the first to spot scoliosis—or to be asked about uneven shoulders or back pain. Rapid, appropriate referral can dramatically influence outcomes.

Key Recognition Points

Primary care practitioners should be alert to:

Visible asymmetry (shoulders, waist, ribs).
Positive forward bend (Adams) test.
Growth spurts and family history in adolescents.

Urgent vs Routine Referral

Urgent referral is warranted if:

There are neurological red flags (weakness, bladder/bowel changes).
Pain is severe, unexplained, or systemic signs are present.

Routine but timely referral is appropriate for suspected structural curves in growing children.

Working with Dorsi

Dorsi Spinal Institute offers clear referral pathways, rapid assessments, and detailed feedback to referrers, helping embed best practice in community settings.

Next Steps

Clinicians wanting clear, practical scoliosis recognition and referral guidelines can partner with Dorsi for protocols, teaching sessions, and case discussions.

Related reading: see our blogs on diagnosis processes, red flags, and practitioner education.

Written by

Dr Matthew ABJ Potts BSc MSc DC ISPRM

Clinical Director

Doctor of Chiropractic

Specialist Scoliosis Consultant

Fellow of the British Scoliosis Society

Member of the Scoliosis Association (UK)

Chair of the Clinical Advisory Board at Meloq AB

Member of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

Editorial board member of international journals CICRJ & Rehabilitation Science

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