CHIR113 Lecture 6: Improving Palpation
3 Aug 2018
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16th march 2018: tutorial 4 improving palpation techniques: The palpating hand is acting as an observer of the range of movement and the end-feel. Relaxed hands sense more and are more comfortable to the patient. Evaluate intersegmental movement with passive or patient assisted movement. Try establish what normal is for that patient. Use patient assisted movement where passive is difficult e. g. lumbar spine and si joints. If patient moves actively then the global effects of large muscle groups are exaggerated. Ensure that the motion produced is as localized as possible to the segment of interest. Contacts should be the most sensitive available. This will usually mean using the pads of the thumbs, index and middle fingers. Distractions to the practitioner should be reduced include unnecessary noise, conversation or movement. The practitioner may wish to close their eyes to focus their attention on the palpatory information. Try to distinguish between the soft tissue movements and the joint movements.
