Neurological Examination - Limbs and Gait Flashcards
What is the order of the examination of the Limbs & Gait?
Observation
Tone
Power
Coordination
Reflexes
Sensation
Gait
What are we looking for when inspecting the upper limbs?
Muscle atrophy
Fasciculations
Scars
Skeletal deformity
Involuntary movements
Tremor
What does muscle atrophy suggest?
LMN lesion
Long term UMN lesion, due to disuse
What do fasciculations indicate?
LMN lesion (hard to see)
How is a tremor described?
Speed and amplitude
Is it worse at rest or during movement
What are the 2 commonly found tremors and what are their features?
Physiological tremor - Fine, fast upper limb tremor caused by alcohol, anxiety, drugs, hyperthyroidism
Parksonian tremor - Coarse, slow, greater at rest and mostly asymetrical in upper limbs
What is tone and how it described?
This is the resistance felt by examinaer when moving a joint through its range of motions
Increased or decreased tone
What are the 2 main types of increased tone?
Spasticity - velocity dependent resistance to passive movement, the resistance of tone varies throughout the range of joint movements
Rigidity - sustained resistance to joint movement, even with slow movement. The increased tone is constant throughout the entire movement of joint. Lead-pipe rigidity = throughout movement, cog-wheel rigidity = jerky feel, present in Parkinsons.
What is important to consider when testing for tone?
- Ensure the movements are passive and the patient is totally relaxed
- Quick but gentle movements can help ensure they patient is relaxed
- Ensure to check for any pain before proceding
Which areas of the upper limb are tested for power?
Shoulder
Elbow
Wrist
Fingers
Intrinsic hand muscles
Pronator drift
How is power graded?
0-5 on MRC scale
0 = no power
5 = full power
What is an important point to consider when testing joint power?
Stabilise the limb above the joint being tested so only one joint is being tested (e.g support forearm when testing wrist power)
How is the power of the shoulder tested?
Patient extend elbows to 90 degrees
Push hard up against you as you push down
How is the power of the elbow tested?
Hold patients hand
Stabilise joint by holding arm above elbow joint
‘Pull me towards you’
‘Push me away’
Repeat on other arm
How is the power of the wrist tested?
- Stabilise wrist joint by holding forearm
- Patient makes a fist
- Push up against your hand
- Push down against your hand
- Repeat on other arm