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Maine law requires that all female students in 6th and 8th grades, and all male students in 8th grade, receive a spinal exam to screen children for possible spinal curvatures. The purpose of this screening is to detect the signs of scoliosis and kyphosis at the earliest stages so that the need for treatment may be determined. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. It is usually detected in childhood or early adolescence. Kyphosis, sometimes called "round back," is an exaggerated rounding of the spine and is often confused with poor posture. Many cases of curvature or rounding are mild and only require ongoing observation by a physician after they are first
diagnosed. Mild curvatures are often noticeable only to those trained in detecting spinal anomalies. Other curvatures may become progressively more severe as the child grows and require treatment.
State law requires that all parents or guardians must be notified by mail prior to spinal examinations. The option to exempt students from this procedure requires a signed exemption. For more information on the specifics of the spinal screening procedure please see the spinal screening notification/exemption form, or contact your school nurse.
(The Scoliosis Research Society offers information regarding spinal health at: http://srs.org)
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