Inspector Gadget
Observe and compare both sides of the body to inspect for this expected finding.
What is symmetry?
Assess this by moving the patient's joints through their full ROM.
What is passive ROM?
Movement that decreases the angle between 2 adjacent bones.
What is flexion?
"Help! I've _______ and I can't get up!"
Have you fallen recently?
Redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness, loss of function
What are signs of inflammation?
Measure this over time for comparison over time. Gradual loss is an expected finding as a person ages.
What is height?
Assess this by asking the patient to push or pull against resistance.
What is strength?
Movement of a body part that causes the ventral surface to face down.
What is pronation?
"I can do all the things I need to."
Are you able to care for yourself?
Exaggerated lateral curvature of the spine
What is scoliosis?
Observe this when the patient is unaware. The patient standing with head erect with both shoulders and hips at equal heights bilaterally.
What is posture?
Assess this by noting slight resistance of the muscles during relaxation.
What is tone?
Movement that flexes the foot and toes upward.
What is dorsiflexion?
"Holy cow, the hot flashes. I'm pretty sure I'm shrinking too."
Are you going through, or have you already gone through, menopause?
Decrease in muscle size due to disuse; feels soft, boggy
What is atrophy?
This is inspected from the side with expected findings that can be concave or convex at different levels.
What is the spine?
An assessment finding characterized by enlargement of muscle due to strengthening.
What is hypertrophy?
Movement that turns a body part away from the midline.
What is eversion?
"I haven't played shuffleboard in years."
Do you have any physical problems that limit your activity?
Misshapen area with something not looking the way it should.
What is a deformity?
This is an unexpected finding of an exaggerated curvature of the lumbar spine.
What is lordosis?
Assess for this by watching muscles at rest and during movement, watching for rhythmic or involuntary movements.
What are tremors?
Movement of a body part that causes the ventral surface to face up.
What is supination?
"I can tell you when it's going to rain."
Do you have any bone, muscle, or joint problems?
"My knees sure do make an interesting crunchy noise when I walk up the stairs."
What is crepitus?