A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination-including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, body height, BMI (body mass index)/body mass index), and “waist-to-hip ratio” (WHR; waist-to-hip ratio (THV)) or “waist-to-height ratio” (WTR; waist-to-height ratio) [baseline determination as well as for follow-up]; furthermore:
- Inspection (observation)
- Of the body [noticeable discrepancy between slender upper body and powerful lower half].
- of the skin (in the area of the arms and legs) [possible changes in the surface of the skin:
- Finely knotty skin surface (colloquially: orange peel skin; synonyms: cellulite; dermopanniculosis deformans).
- Coarse-knotted skin surface with larger dents (medical also “mattress phenomenon”).
- Large, deforming skin flaps and bulges
- Hyperthermia of the skin (cold skin)
- Teleangiectasia (irreversibly dilated capillaries of the skin).
- Tendency to hematoma (bruise)]
- Possibly also lipolymphedema with increased edema (water retention) in the back of the hands and feet and fingers and toes (see under classification “Severity”).
- Palpation (palpation) of the affected skin [for palpation soft; see also above under skin surface] and, if necessary, circumference and volume measurements of the extremities.
- Inspection (observation)
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
