General Physical Examination

Question 1

What to assess?

Answer 1

Vitals, body, posture, ROMs, organs, distal pulses, muscles

Question 2

Doc position suggested order

Answer 2

Vitals, standing, seated, supine, side posture, prone

Question 3

What should be assessed standing?

Answer 3

Posture, T-C AROM, Single leg stands, squat/rise, waist/hip circumference

Question 4

What should be assessed while seated?

Answer 4

Cervical AROM, shoulder AROM, elbow and wrist AROM, TMJ AROM, masseter palpation, E-E-N-T, lung/heart exam
Low index Neuro exam

Question 5

What is a Low Index Neuro Exam?

Answer 5

Light touch for LE and UE
DTR: bicep (C5), triceps (C7), patella (L4), Achilles (S1)
Motor: deltoid (C5), finger flexion/grip (C8), hip flexion (L2/3), dorsiflexion (L4)

Question 6

What to assess while patient is supine?

Answer 6

LE pulses
SLR
Abdomen, palpate aorta
Jull's test
Cervical palpation - SCM, scalene, subox, post. cervicals, facets
Cx motion palpation

Question 7

What to assess while patient is side posture?

Answer 7

Hip abduction

Lx motion palpation

Question 8

What to assess while patient is prone?

Answer 8

Hip extension
LLI assessment
Passive internal hip rotation
SI provocation

Muscle palpation [Trapezius, levator scap, thoracic &
lumbar paraspinals, QL, glut max/med, piriformis, hamstrings, long dorsal SI ligament]