Palpation & Somatic Dysfunction Flashcards
What is a cybernetic loop?
An unconscious reaction by the patient followed by a similar unconscious reaction by the physician
What are the characteristics of a chronic somatic dysfunction?
Pain: dull, achy, itching, crawling, gnawing, burning
Vasculature: vasoconstriction due to hypersympathetic tone
Skin: cool, pale due to chronic increase sympathetic vascular tone
Tissues: chronic congestion, stringy, ropy, fibrotic, contracture, thickened
Musculature: hypotonic, mushy, limited range of motion due to contracture
Viscera: somatovisceral effects common
Why was touch “lost” in patient-physician interactions during the dark ages?
Physicians avoided touching patients due to the plague
What is the smallest size the fingers are able to discriminate?
1-2mm
What order should be followed for layer-by-layer palpation?
Observation Temperature Skin (scarcely touching) Fascia (no blanching of fingernails) Muscle (some blanching) Bone, tendon, ligament (complete blanching) Erythema friction rub
Before engaging in palpation, what should you ask/tell the patient?
Ask for permission to palpate. After receiving permission, inform the patient what you are going to do
Name the different types of mechanoreceptors.
Pacinian corpuscles, Meissner’s corpuscles, Ruffini corpuscles, Merkel’s discs
What are the characteristics of an acute somatic dysfunction?
Pain: acute, severe, sharp
Vasculature: vasodilation and inflammation
Skin: warm, moist, red/inflamed
Tissues: edema, boggy
Musculature: increase in local tone (hypertonic) leading to contraction, spasm, or poor quality of motion
Viscera: minimal somatovisceral effects
What are the 3 types of motion used in OMM?
Active, passive, inherent
Sub-classification of active/passive: regional, intersegmental
Define somatic dysfunction.
Impaired or altered function of related components of the somatic system: skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures, and related vascular, lymphatic, and neural elements
When can you treat a somatic dysfunction?
Indication for OMM Independent of other diagnoses Documentable Track improvement over time Billable
What does TART stand for?
Tissue texture changes, asymmetry, restricted range of motion, tenderness
What is the definition of touch?
Physical contact involved in palpation
What is the definition of palpation?
Diagnostic and therapeutic “touch” as combined with OMT
With active and passive motion testing, in what order should you test the patient?
Active and then passive
