GAP - Topic 3 - Introduction to Palpation PDF

Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy (Halifax) GAP – Topic #3 Introduction to Palpation TOPIC #3 – INTRODUCTION TO PALPATION Clinical Orientated Anatomy INTRODUCTION TO PALPATION PALPATION ➢ “To explore or examine through touch.” LOCATING A STRUCTURE ➢ Trail to it and differentiate it from oth...

Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy (Halifax) GAP – Topic #3 Introduction to Palpation TOPIC #3 – INTRODUCTION TO PALPATION Clinical Orientated Anatomy INTRODUCTION TO PALPATION PALPATION ➢ “To explore or examine through touch.” LOCATING A STRUCTURE ➢ Trail to it and differentiate it from other structures around it. BECOMING AWARE OF CHARACTERISTICS ➢ What does it feel like under your fingers ... ➢ Smooth, rough, sharp, depression, ridge, cool, etc… ASSESSING QUALITY AND CONDITION TO DETERMINE HOW TO TREAT ➢ Does it feel different from the opposite side or what is “normal”. GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW MAKE CONTACT ➢ Let hands/fingers be responsive, relaxed, sensitive ➢ To increase sensitivity, can palpate hand-over-hand ➢ Start with whole hand to feel surroundings then change to finger tips to narrow in on structure o Small structures = Use 1-2 fingers o Large structures = Whole hand LESS IS MORE ➢ Don’t press too hard – All structures will feel the same ➢ Let your fingers “sink in” layer by layer ➢ Be patient! MOVE SLOWLY ➢ If you move too fast, you will pass desired tissue ➢ If you “jump” around you will lose your trail ➢ Never take your fingers off the body MOVEMENT Vs STILLNESS ➢ Generally we move fingers over stationary bone or muscle to palpate, but when you’re assessing movement/contraction keep fingers still and move structure Page 1 of 4 Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy (Halifax) GAP – Topic #3 Introduction to Palpation THINK ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND HAVE A VISUAL REFERENCE ➢ Think about the anatomy beneath your hands/fingers. ➢ Have Netter next to you while you palpate CLOSE YOUR EYES ➢ Visualize the Anatomy, this can increase awareness FOCUS AND BE AWARE ➢ Pay attention to size, shape, texture, temperature, tone, density, length, thickness... CERTAIN TISSUES WILL FEEL DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER ➢ Skin, bone, muscle, ligament, tendon, fascia WHEN IN DOUBT – ASK THE BODY ➢ Feedback from your classmates will be critical in helping you develop your palpation skills ➢ Never view this feedback as negative, it is designed to help you learn and correct yourself PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT ➢ You should be practicing your palpation EACH AND EVERY DAY ➢ We will have time to demonstrate every landmark in class but you will have to practice each one multiple times to ensure you are truly feeling it properly ➢ Please ensure you palpate a variety of different body types (don’t stick with the same partners all the time) CREATE A PALPATION JOURNAL ➢ Just like in lecture, you will need to create palpation notes to help you review what is discussed in class PALPATING STRUCTURES ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Name the structure you are going to palpate. Start a bone away. Use anatomical directions to get you to the structure. Name the structures you pass over to get to your desired structure. Locate structure. Outline entire structure Use appropriate depth. Describe structure while palpating. State something special or unique. Page 2 of 4 Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy (Halifax) GAP – Topic #3 Introduction to Palpation TEXTURE DIFFERENCES SKIN ➢ The skin is the largest organ in the body, averages about 1/20 of an inch in thickness and is connected to the superficial fascia. ➢ The texture, thickness and flexibility of the skin vary throughout the body. ➢ You will find that the skin of the posterior surface of your palm is thin and you can separate it from the underlying tissues. Skin on the anterior surface of your palm feels thicker adhered to the underlying tissues BONE ➢ The bones and their landmarks are easy to distinguish from other tissues because they have a solid feel. ➢ Bones create the framework, hills, valleys and bumps where the muscles and ligaments attach. ➢ Bone is usually found deep to muscles or ligaments, so realizing that its shape and rigidity doesn’t change where the overlying soft tissue can transform from a soft to hard state and back again is important to be aware of. MUSCLE ➢ Skeletal muscle is voluntary contractile tissue that moves the skeleton. ➢ Muscle tissue has three specific characteristics that help distinguish it from other structures. MUSCLE TISSUE ➢ Muscles have a striated texture – This is similar to a plank of wood with the grains running in the same direction. ➢ Direction of the muscle fibers – Each muscle has its own direction of fibers which allows you to distinguish it from other muscles that may be layered on top or found deep the muscle being palpated. ➢ Muscle can be in a relaxed or contracted state – When muscles are relaxed it has a soft, malleable feel and when contracted has a firm solid quality. Surrounding fascia and the muscles tendons also will become taut or loose. TENDONS ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ These attach muscle to bone Composed of dense connective tissue Each and every muscle has at least 2 tendons (one proximal and one distal) Tendons come in all shapes and sizes but they can often be described as smooth, taught tubular Page 3 of 4 Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy (Halifax) GAP – Topic #3 Introduction to Palpation LIGAMENT ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ Ligaments connect bones together to form a joint They act as stabilizing elements for the skeletal system (think duct tape!) Made up of dense connective tissue Often feel flat, taut, thin or thick. ❖ REFER TO HANDOUT FOR ORAL PRACTICAL PROCEDURES WITH REGARDS TO PALPATION Page 4 of 4