Integument Flashcards
What Does the Integument Tell Us?
- Determine the baseline status
- Determine the rate of healing/non-healing
- Determine the presence of edema/swelling/effusion
Edema/swelling/efussion
- Edema: accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues or serous cavities (extravascular and interstitial tissue)
- Swelling: clinical manifestation of edema
- Effusion: escape of fluid from blood vessels or the lymphatics into tissue or cavity
Why Examine the Integument?
• Identify circulatory problems
o Altered temperature of an extremit
• Assist in locating the presence of adhesion formation
• Determine the location of pain/primary problem
• Location of eccymosis (bruising)
o Determine the acuteness or chronicity of the condition
What Will Elasticity of Integument Tell Us?
o Amount of drag or resistance to movement
o Use of fingers vs skin roll to assess the amount of motion in all directions
-localized = injury/trauma, systemic = bigger infection?
-Cold = circulatory issue
-Wet = systemic or sympathetic issue
Signs of Altered Skin Integrity
o Circumferential/diameter measure
o Areas of infection
o Areas of recent healing – implies weak tissue area
o Smell (if applicable) - indicates infections
o Size/color of eschar (scab)
o Amount/color of drainage – look at dressing Integumentary
Specific Integument Impairments
• Increased diaphoresis (sweating/clammy skin)
• Increased warmth/redness
• Coolness – circulation problems
o Location and dimension
What Does Myofascial Mean?
Pertaining to the sheet of fibrous tissue (connective tissue) that envelopes the body beneath the skin; also encloses muscles and muscle groups, and separates their several layers or groups
Indications for Examination
PT Impairments, Postural Imbalance, Swelling/Edema, Altered Skin Integrity
Postural Issues
Strength deficiencies in both muscles. Muscles lengthen, others tighten→muscles more prone to injury
Myofascial Tests and Measures
• Palpation
• Specific techniques
o Layer palpation and skin rolls
Muscle Spasm
• Increased muscle tension and shortness, which cannot be released voluntarily and which prevents lengthening of the muscles involved
• Responds to stretching
Occurs as a reaction to injury
Muscle Spasticity
Result of a neurological problem, loose inhibitory system and muscle contracts without any regulatory mechanism.
Triggger Points
Hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscles that are associated with palpable nodules and taut bands of muscle fibers. • Will refer pain and tenderness to another area of the body when pressure is applied – pattern of pain is reproducible
• Pattern of pain is specific to the muscle
Latent Trigger Points
Focus of hyperirritability in the muscle or its associated fascia, clinically only painful if palpated, can have referred pattern of pain
Trigger Points respond _______________ to stretching
Negatively
