Palpations Flashcards
Does the patient/therapist position to palpate the external occipial protuberance matter?
No
How do you palpate the external occipital protuberance?
Climb up the spinous processes until you find a big bump.
Is the external occipital protuberance level with the ear?
Yes
What is a tip to palpate the external occipital protuberance?
After you climbed up the spinous processes use the circle motion to help find the occipital protuberance
What is the patient position for palpating the mastoid process?
Supine
What is the therapist position for palpating the mastoid process?
Behind the patient
How do you palpate the mastoid process?
Locate the distal portion of the ear lobe and slide posterior to that
What is the patient position for palpating the transverse process of C1?
Supine
What is the therapist position for palpating the transverse process of C1?
Behind the patient
How do you palpate the transverse process of C1? What muscle do you have to be posterior to?
Locate the mastoid process, move inferior and make sure you are posterior to the SCM, and push your finger into the skin until you feel a protuberance moving into your finger
What is the patient position for palpating the spinous process of C2?
Prone
What is the therapist position for palpating the spinous process of C2?
In front of the patient
How do you palpate the spinous process of C2?
Start from C7 and follow the spinous processes to the external occipital protuberance region and slide down until you find the first bony prominence
Does the patient position matter when palpating the spinous process of C7?
No
How do you palpate the spinous process of C7?
Ask the patient to flex their neck and feel the bony prominence that pops out
What is the patient position for palpating the spinous process of T1?
Seated
How do you palpate the spinous process of T1?
You ask the patient to flex their neck, palpate C7, and find the next bony prominence inferior
What is the patient position for palpating the acromion?
Seated or standing
What is the therapist position for palpating the acromion?
In front of the patient
How do you palpate the acromion?
Follow the clavicle laterally until you find a bony prominence
What is the patient position when palpating the iliac crest?
Standing or supine
What is the therapist position when palpating the iliac crest?
Behind the patient or beside the patient
How do you palpate the iliac crest?
Slide down the patients side of their midsection until you find the top of their hip bone
What is the patient position when palpating the ASIS?
Standing or supine
What is the patient position when palpating the ASIS?
In front of the patient or beside the patient
How do you palpate the ASIS?
Find the iliac crest, go slightly medially and inferiorly until you find a bony prominence
What is the patient position when palpating the PSIS?
Standing or prone
What is the therapist position when palpating the PSIS?
Behind the patient or beside of the patient
How do you palpate the PSIS?
Locate the iliac crests and go medially until you find the dimple like bumps
The PSIS is found at what vertebral level?
S2
What is the patient position for palpating the spine of the scapula, superior border of the scapula, medial border of the scapula, & lateral border of the scapula?
Seated
What is the therapist position for palpating the spine of the scapula, superior border of the scapula, medial border of the scapula, & lateral border of the scapula?
Beside the patient
How do you palpate the superior angle of the scapula and spine of the scapula?
Start medially around the upper trapezius and walk your way down until you find a ridge, the first ridge is the superior angle of the scapula, walk inferiorly until you find a second ridge and the second ridge is the spine of the scapula
How do you palpate the medial border of the scapula? What movement can the patient perform to make it easier to find the medial border of the scapula?
Start from the level of the spinous processes and walk laterally. Have the patient horizontally abduct and adduct and you can feel the medial border of the scapula move back and forth
How do you palpate the lateral border of the scapula?
Find the inferior angle of the scapula and walk laterally
What is the patient position for palpating the olecranon process?
Seated or standing
What is the therapist position for palpating the olecranon process?
In front of the patient
How do you palpate the olecranon process?
Have the patient flex their shoulder and elbow to 90 degrees and feel the bony part of their elbow
What is the patient position for palpating the sternal notch?
Seated or standing
What is the therapist position for palpating the sternal notch?
In front of the patient
How do you palpate the sternal notch?
Find the indentation or dip between the two SC joints
What is the patient position for palpating the sternoclavicular joint?
Seated or standing
What is the therapist position for palpating the SC joint?
In front of the patient
How do you palpate the SC joint?
Find the clavicles and go to the most medial end of the clavicles
What is the patient position for palpating the coracoid process?
Seated
What is the therapist position for palpating the coracoid process?
Beside the patient
How do you palpate the coracoid process? What movement can the patient perform to help you access this structure?
Start from the armpit area and go slightly superomedial and dig inside. Have the patient be in a horizontally adducted position and continue to look.
What is the patient position for palpating the greater tubercle of the humerus?
Seated
What is the therapist position for palpating the greater tubercle of the humerus?
Beside the patient
How do you palpate the greater tubercle of the humerus?
Find the acromion and on the lateral side of the acromion if you go slightly inferior you will be on the greater tubercle
What is the patient position for palpating the lesser tubercle of the humerus?
Seated
What is the therapist position for palpating the lesser tubercle of the humerus?
Beside the patient
How do you palpate the lesser tubercle of the humerus? What movement can the patient perform to help you identify the lesser tubercle?
Find the acromion and on the anterior surface of the acromion slide posterior until you feel a bony prominence. Have the patient internally and externally rotate to feel the lesser tubercle roll underneath the finger of the therapist.
What is the patient position for palpating the lateral epicondyle of the humerus?
Seated with their shoulder in a slightly abducted/internally rotated position and the elbow flexed to 90 degrees
What is the therapist position for palpating the lateral epicondyle of the humerus?
Beside the patient
How do you palpate the lateral epicondyle of the humerus?
Trace down the lateral aspect of the humerus until you find a bony prominence at the base of the lateral portion of the humerus
What is the patient position for palpating the medial epicondyle of the humerus?
Seated with their shoulder in a slightly abducted/externally rotated position and the elbow flexed to 90 degree
What is the therapist position for palpating the medial epicondyle of the humerus?
Beside the patient
How do you palpate the medial epicondyle of the humerus?
Trace down the medial aspect of the humerus until you find a bony prominence at the base of the medial portion of the humerus
What is the patient position for palpating the radial head of the humerus?
Seated with elbow flexed to 90 degrees in handshake position
What is the patient position for palpating the radial head of the humerus?
Beside the patient holding their wrist
To palpate the___ … Using a pincher grip, grasp the lateral aspect of the proximal forearm. Passively pronate and supinate the forearm to feel the ___ rolling underneath your finger
radial head; radial head
What is the patient position for palpating the radial styloid process?
Seated with their forearm supinated on the table
What is the therapist position for palpating the radial styloid process?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the radial styloid process?
Travel down the radius until you feel a pertuberance at the distal end of the radius
What is the patient position for palpating the ulnar styloid process?
Seated with their forearm supinated
What is the therapist position for palpating the ulnar styloid process?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the ulnar styloid process?
Travel down the ulna until you feel a pertuberance at the distal end of the ulna
What is the patient position for palpating Lister’s tubercle?
Seated with their forearm pronated
What is the therapist position for palpating Lister’s tubercle?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate Lister’s tubercle?
Slide down the posterior aspect of the radius until you feel a small tubercle
What is the patient position for palpating the scaphoid?
Seated with their forearm pronated
What is the therapist position for palpating the scaphoid?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the scaphoid?
Have the patient raise their thumb to locate the anatomical snuffbox and palpate the base of the anatomical snuffbox until you feel a very prominent bone
What is the patient position for palpating the capitate?
Seated with their forearm pronated
What is the therapist position for palpating the capitate?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the capitate? What movement can the patient perform to have the capitate move right into your finger?
Follow the 3rd digit proximally and there will be a depression proximal to the metacarpal bone. Passively flex the patient to feel the capitate move into my finger.
What is the patient position for palpating the lunate?
Seated with their forearm pronated
What is the therapist position for palpating the lunate?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the lunate? What movement can the patient perform to have the lunate rise up?
Find the capitate and go slightly proximal. Flex the patient’s wrist to feel the lunate rise up.
What is the patient position for palpating the triquetrum?
Seated with their forearm supinated
What is the therapist position for palpating the triquetrum?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the triquetrum? What movement can the patient perform to have the triquetrum push out?
Follow the ulna distally to find the ulnar styloid process. Go slightly more distal until you find a bony prominence. Radial deviate the patient to feel the triquetrum push out.
What is the patient position for palpating the pisiform?
Seated with their forearm supinated
What is the therapist position for palpating the pisiform?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the pisiform?
Locate the triquetrum and go slightly medial on the palmar aspect of the hand
What is the patient position for palpating the trapezium?
Seated with their forearm pronated
What is the therapist position for palpating the trapezium?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the trapezium?
Slide down the 1st metacarpal until you find a divot
What is the patient position for palpating the trapezium?
Seated with their forearm pronated
What is the therapist position for palpating the trapezium?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the trapezoid?
Locate the trapezium and go slightly medial
What is the patient position for palpating the hamate?
Seated with their forearm supinated
What is the therapist position for palpating the hamate?
Facing the patient
How do you palpate the hamate / hook of the hamate?
Slide distally from the space between the 4th and 5th digits starting from the wrist and really apply pressure to feel for the bone
