Techniques in physical Health assessment

Health assessment is an important component in health care for proper diagnosis and effective treatment.

Health assessment includes the following

1.                 Physical assessment

2.                 Head to foot examination

3.                 Systemwise examination

4.                 Recording height and weight,

5.                 Mental status examination

6.                 Laboratory investigation

7.                 Special investigation

Techniques in physical assessment.

Techniques in physical assessment are

Inspection - It means looking with eyes. It reveals any rash scar, colour, size shape, contour and symmetry of the body parts

Palpation - It means feeling using sense of touch. It reveals any swelling, coldness, hotness, stiffness, hardness, smoothness, roughness, pain, vibration, firmness and flaccidity

Percussion - It means striking or tapping with fingers. It elicits sounds which indicate whether the underlined tissues are solid or filled with fluid. The sounds may vary

Resonant: A loud sound over the normal lung tissue

Tympanic: A drum like sound over the air filled tissues such as gastric air bubble. Dull: a medium pitched sound with medium duration without resonance, heard over the solid tissues, such as heart, liver.

Flat: A pitched sound with short duration without resonance, heard over the complete solid tissues, such as bones.

Auscultation - It means listen with stethoscope or placing the ear against the body. It reveals sounds produced within the body and the blood vessels such as heart beat, bowel sounds.

Manipulation: It means moving with the body parts. It reveals rigidity, difficulty or discomfort in moving the body parts.

Reflex testing:

Means automatic response to a given stimulus. It reveals reflex is present, or not present, strength and movements of hands and legs.

Olfaction - It means sense of smell (odour). It reveals the nature of disease condition of the patient.