GALS examination

Question 1

What does GALS stand for?

Answer 1

Gait, Arms, Legs, Spine

Question 2

What screening questions should you ask?

Answer 2

Do you have pain or stiffness in your muscles, joints or back?
Can you dress yourself without difficulty?
Can you walk up and down stairs without difficulty?

Question 3

How should you generally inspect the patient?

Answer 3

From the front, from the back, from the side

Question 4

How do you test gait?

Answer 4

Ask the patient to walk, turn and walk back

Question 5

What tests do you do on the arms?

Answer 5

Hands- inspection; supination and pronation; test grip power; touch each tip of finger to tip of thumb; squeeze metacarpals for tenderness
Elbows-flexion and extension
Shoulders-put hands behind head and push elbows back

Question 6

What test should you do to the head and neck?

Answer 6

Mouth- open mouth as wide as possible and move to right and left
Head and neck- touch ear to shoulder

Question 7

How should you test the lumbar spine?

Answer 7

Ask patient to touch their toes, with two fingers on adjacent spinous processes

Question 8

What tests do you do on the legs?

Answer 8

Inspect legs
Test knee effusion by pressing on suprapatella pouch
Passively flex the knee and hip, internally rotate hip
Feet- Squeeze metatarsal heads for tenderness
Inspect soles for abnormal calluses