Sensory Exam Flashcards
Sensory Testing
Which tract?
- PINPRICK
Spinothalamic
What is the test? What does it test for?
- severe stiffness of hamstring causes inability to straighten leg at knee when hip is flexed to 90 degrees.
- Kernig’s Test
- Meningismus. •One sign of meningitis
2 tests of Meningismus (meningitis)
- Kernig’s sign
- Neck rigidity (Bradzinski’s neck sign)
What is the test? What does it test?
Ability to recognize a number written in the palm
- Sensory Exam- Higher Cortical Sensory Discrimination
- Graphesthesia
Sensory Exam-Proprioception
Grasp the patient’s joint by the ______of the finger / toe – NOT on the _________
- side
- NOT on the top or bottom
Sensory Testing
When performing sensory testing, start _____ and move ______
- distally
- move proximally
Sensory Testing
Which tract?
- JOINT POSITION
Posterior columns
Sensory Testing-Sharp v. Dull
- To test sharp, you need something sharp enough to make the patient say “Ouch”. _____________, etc won’t do.
- Sharp and dull objects need to be about the _________ as well.
- Paperclips, fingernails, pen tops
- about the same size
Sensory Testing-Light Touch
Describe the touch used for testing light touch
Touch lightly without stroking or pressing
What is the test? What does it test for?
- severe neck stiffness causes pts hip and knees to flex when neck is flexed
- Brudzinski’s Test
- Meningismus. •One sign of meningitis
What is the test? What does it test for?
Percuss lightly over the course of any nerve which may be regenerating.
- Tinel’s Test
- In the case of carpal tunnel, this would be the median nerve. If the percussion causes tingling or electrical sensations, the Tinel’s test is positive.
Sensory Testing
Which tract?
- SHARP/DULL
Spinothalamic
Sensory Exam-Vibration
- Strike the fork to maximum stimulus and place it on ______ joint.
- Place your ________ under the patient’s MTP to feel the vibration the pt feels.
- MTP joint
- your DIP
Sensory Testing-Light Touch
Touch lightly without stroking or pressing
Do not use _________, etc to perform light touch
gauze, q-tips, cotton
Sensory Testing
Which tract?
- TEMPERATURE
Spinothalamic
Sensory Testing
Which tract?
- LIGHT TOUCH
Spinothalamic/Posterior columns
Sensory Exam- Higher Cortical Sensory Discrimination
3 Tests
- •Two-point discrimination
- •Graphesthesia
- •Stereognosis
What is the test? What does it test?
•Ability to identify an object by feeling it
- Sensory Exam- Higher Cortical Sensory Discrimination
- Stereognosis
2 Tests for Carpal Tunnel
- Phalen’s Test
- Tinel’s Test
What is the test? What does it test for?
•Pt to hold wrists in 90 degrees of flexion for 60 seconds.
- Phalen’s Test
- If numbness and tingling develop in the median nerve distribution, the test is positive and is suggestive of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Sensory Testing
Which tract?
- VIBRATION
Posterior columns
