Examination of the extremities | Physical examination

Examination of the extremities

During the examination of the extremities, blood circulation, motor skills and sensitivity are examined. For the examination of blood circulation in the legs, the pulses are measured on the feet behind the ankle and on the back of the foot in side comparison. In addition, the pulses are palpated in the hollow of the knee and in the groin.

When examining the feet, the doctor also paid attention to the color of the skin and the temperature. Although the feet may be cold, they must not be at different temperatures or be at different temperatures. When examining the blood circulation in the arms, the pulses are usually also measured in a side by side comparison.

Here, the pulses are measured in the armpits and on the wrists. The pulses should also be the same on both sides, because a difference in the pulses can be an indication of arterial occlusion and thus of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD). This finding is particularly important in patients with a history of long-term nicotine consumption, as smoking massively promotes the development of PAD.

The motor function of the extremities is also examined in a side by side comparison. For the gross motor skills, the focus is on force measurement, while for the smaller joints, such as the fingers, the focus is on examining the fine motor skills.When testing gross motor skills, the patient is usually asked to stretch or bend his or her joints a resistance. When testing fine motor skills, the patient is asked to move his fingers in different movement patterns.

The sensor system of the extremities can be examined, for example, with a vibrating tuning fork. This is held on the patient’s ankles while the patient is asked to tell the doctor whether or not he can feel this vibration. The sensory system is also always examined by comparing the sides.