MSK - GALS Flashcards
Preparing the patient
bare below mid thigh
Screening questions (3)
Do you have any pain or stiffness in your muscles, joints or back?
Can you dress yourself completely without difficulty?
Can you walk up and down stairs without any difficulty?
Procedure of exam (6)
Screening questions Gait Inspection Arms Spine Legs
Gait (5)
Symmetry Heel strike, toe off Ability to turn any increased stepping height (seen in foot drop) Any evidence of pain e.g. antalgic gait
Inspection - front (5)
Shoulder muscle bulk Extension of elbows Quadricep muscle bulk Knees- deformity, swelling or asymmetry Feet- deformity or asymmetry
Inspection- side (4)
Normal: cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis
Knee alignment- any locking
Foot arches
Toe clawing
Inspection- back (6)
Shoulder muscles Spinal alignment Iliac crest heights Gluteal muscle bulk Popliteal swelling Hind-foot abnormalities
Arms (6)
Hands behind head Hold hands out infront of them > inspect hands Make a fist Squeeze my finger Pinch fingers to thumb in turn Squeeze across MCPs
Before inspecting legs…
get patient on couch
Leg movements (3)
Flexion and extension of knee- feel for crepitus
Flex hip
Internal rotation of hip
Anything else on legs (3)
patellar tap
inspect legs and feet
squeeze across MTPs
Spine (2)
Tilt head to each side
Assess lumber flexion (Schober’s)
What does GALS stand for?
Gait
Arms
Legs
Spine
