Patient Evaluation, Anthropometry, and Joint Range of Motion

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Patient Evaluation, Problem Oriented Medical Records (POMR), Anthropometry, Joint Classification, and Range of Motion (ROM) assessment tools and principles.

Evaluation

A comprehensive, structured clinical assessment conducted by a physical therapist on the first visit to analyze a patient's medical history, movement capabilities, and functional limitations to form a diagnosis and tailored treatment plan, as well as the process of collecting and organizing information to plan and implement effective treatment.

Informal Assessment

A general overall view of the patient's performance done through observation in a non-structural manner, used primarily to locate the affected part (such as a Quick test).

Formal Assessment

An assessment organized for a structural presentation where individual tasks are used to elicit identifiable behavior (such as a Functional test).

Standardized Assessment

A highly structural assessment performed with strict procedures for presentation, timing, and scoring (such as Grade $3$ muscle testing or EMG).

Narrative Note

A storytelling, generalized report style for clinical evaluation that lacks a definite format to guide clinical findings, can be time-consuming to read, and is appropriate for progress reports with no change in state or brief single-visit minor problems.

Problem Oriented Medical Recording (POMR)

An orderly record-keeping system designed to record patient care using a definite organized format abbreviated as SOAP, making clinical findings thorough, concise, and easy to extract.

SOAP Format

An acronym representing the four headings of progress notes in POMR: Subjective (what the patient tells), Objective (what is measured or observed), Assessment (professional judgment/situation statement), and Plan (next intervention steps or changes).

Active Problem

A problem entry on the POMR problem list that is currently not solved.

Inactive Problem

A problem entry on the POMR problem list that has been treated either temporarily or permanently.

Anthropometry

The assessment and evaluation of physical size, shape, and composition of the human body (such as height, weight, Body Mass Index, and waist circumference) used as a marker of health, nutritional status, and growth.

Reliability

The extent to which comparable results are achieved every time the same test is repeated under identical conditions by one or more raters.

Objectivity

The characteristic of test findings being reported without distortion by personal opinions or feelings.

Validity

The degree to which a test or measurement device actually measures what it is supposed to measure.

Girth Measurements

Round tape measurements looped around a body segment to evaluate muscle contour, muscle atrophy, muscle hypertrophy, joint swelling, or chest mobility.

Skinfold Thickness

A body composition assessment raised by a pinching and rolling action of the thumb and index finger, where a skinfold caliper is applied at a right angle with pressure plates $1\,cm$ from the fingers holding the fold.

Anthropometer

A wide spreading caliper used to measure breadths and depths of the axial skeleton.

3D Body Scanner

An advanced digital scanning device used in collaborative research like the Body Benchmark Study to calculate full body and segmental volumes to assess Body Volume Index for health care.

Scanogram Examination

A specialized long-length X-ray that captures the entire skeleton or limb in a single image to assess full-body skeletal alignment, leg length differences, spinal posture, and orthopedic surgical planning.

3D Motion Analysis

An objective method of gait analysis that uses $2$ or more cameras to track bright markers placed on specific anatomical locations, allowing computer software to analyze joint motion in three dimensions.

Formetric Device

An objective scanning system consisting of a scan system, computer, printer, and isolating transformer used to analyze spinal geometry and assess back symmetry.

Fibrous Joint

An immovable joint where bones are joined together by dense connective tissue, such as skull sutures and teeth.

Primary Cartilaginous Joint

A joint formed of hyaline cartilage that ossifies with age and permits no movement, such as the epiphyseal plate of cartilage.

Secondary Cartilaginous Joint

A joint formed of fibrocartilage that usually does not ossify with age and allows minimal movement, such as an intervertebral disc.

Synovial Joint

A freely moveable joint category characterized by bones enclosed within a fibrous capsule lined with a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid for joint lubrication.

Passive Range of Motion (PROM)

Movement within the unrestricted joint range of motion produced by an external force (such as an examiner, machine, or gravity) without voluntary muscle contraction.

Active Range of Motion (AROM)

Movement within the unrestricted joint range of motion produced by active contraction of the muscles crossing that joint.

Physiologic Range of Motion

The controlled voluntary motion that occurs between different body segments.

Functional Range of Motion

The available range of motion required for performing activities of daily living.

Hyper-mobility

A condition of joint laxity where joint motion exceeds the normal expected range of motion.

Hypo-mobility

A restriction or joint tightness resulting in less than normal range of motion, such as a $70\text{--}80^\circ$ restriction in knee flexion that interferes with stair climbing.

End Feel

The sensation transmitted to the therapist's hands at the extreme end of passive range of motion when overpressure is applied, indicating the structures limiting movement.

Bony End Feel

An abrupt, hard, unyielding physiological stop experienced when two bones make direct contact, such as elbow extension where the olecranon process hits the humerus.

Soft Tissue Approximation

A cushioned, yielding physiological compression felt when two soft muscle masses press together, such as during elbow flexion or knee flexion.

Tissue Stretch

A firm, springy sensation with a slight elastic give caused by stretching surrounding muscles or tendons, such as during a straight leg raise for hamstring elongation.

Capsular Stretch

A leather-like, firm resistance with a slight give produced by tightening of the joint capsule and ligaments, such as during shoulder external rotation.

Empty End Feel

An abnormal end feel where movement stops completely due to severe pain before any physical resistance is met, indicating conditions like acute bursitis, fractures, or infection.

Muscle Spasm End Feel

An abnormal, sudden, reflexive, and dramatic arrest of movement accompanied by pain, serving to protect an injured structure.

Springy Block End Feel

An abnormal rebound or bounce-back sensation felt at an unexpected point in the movement range, usually pointing to internal joint derangement like a torn meniscus.

Boggy End Feel

An abnormal mushy, fluid-like resistance in a joint that normally feels firm or hard, indicating joint effusion or edema.

Angular Movements

Motions that produce an increase or decrease in the angle between adjacent bones, including flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

Rotation Movements

Motions occurring around a longitudinal or vertical axis, including internal rotation, external rotation, trunk rotation, scapular rotation, and circumduction.

Myositis Ossificans

A pathological muscle condition that acts as an absolute contraindication for both active and passive range of motion measurements.

Universal Goniometer

A widely used, washable measuring protractor tool equipped with a stationary arm, a movable arm, and a fulcrum/rivet, calibrated in full circle ($360^\circ$) or half circle ($180^\circ$) scales.

Electro-goniometer

A goniometer instrument that connects directly to a potentiometer, providing high sensitivity to joint movement during assessment.

Inclinometer

A range of motion measuring instrument that utilizes a fluid-based design to accurately record angles not easily measured by conventional goniometers.

Spino-gram

A spinal motion evaluation method where reflective dots are placed on vertebral spinous processes and photographed using a video camera connected to computer software.

Therabite Scale

A specialized scale or ruler tool used to measure the complex rotational and translational movements of the temporomandibular joint.

Pleurical Caliper

A diagnostic caliper instrument used to evaluate pelvic tilt with leg shortening, limb bone shortening, forefoot supination, tibial torsion, upper thigh diameter, iliac spine levels, and prosthetic socket inner diameter.