03/09/2021
💥 Palpation 💥
Palpation is one of the assessment techniques health providers use during a physical exam to detect certain characteristics of the body. It's the technique of using the sense of touch to assess parts of the body. By using different parts of their hands, different characteristics about the patient's body - such as swelling, size and movement - can be identified.
📌Palpation uses from light to firm pressure to identify and quantify the abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system, pain/tenderness, trigger points.
📌Normal or abnormal findings that could be elicited by observation and palpation include:
1. symmetry/asymmetry
2. Dkin color and appearance
3. Rash
4. Ulcers
5. Lack of sweating, hair abnormalities warmth and heat
6. Swelling including effusions, nodules
7. Inflammatory findings like synovial and periarticular thickening
8. Muscle atrophy, tone, contractures, and spasms
9. Crepitations
10. Joint deformities including spine like kyphosis and scoliosis.
Types of Palpation
➡️The fingertips are used in fine tactile discriminations, such as skin texture, swelling and pulsations
➡️The finger and thumb used in a grasping action can help determine the position, size and consistency of a body part.
➡️The back of the fingers and hands are used to check the body temperature.
➡️The side of your hands on the same side of your pinky finger is used to check for vibrations in the body.
➡️The front of the fingers are used for light palpation, deep palpation, light ballottement and deep ballottement.
Rehab Physio Association 💫