Palpation in the objective examination: what is it and what is it for?

By Cristiano Antonino On May 27, 2022

Palpation in the medical field refers to a part of the objective examination, where the doctor or nurse uses their hands in contact with the patient’s body, exerting pressure, traction, penetration of accessible organs and apparatuses, rubbing, pressing

assessing the position, location, size, shape, consistency, continuity, movement and mobility of an organ or tissue (muscles, liver, thyroid gland, bone segments, heart, lymph nodes, prostate, joints, bladder, testicle, etc.)
search for clinical signs
identification of any pathological swellings
determination of the presence and extent of evoked pain
tender points (ureteral, appendicular, cholecystic, etc.)
to check the person’s tender points, as palpation sometimes remains the only means of diagnosis for certain diseases such as fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome
search for physiological and pathological arterial pulses
detection of quivers, crackles, tactile vocal tremor (FVT)
assessment of the presence and extent of oedema
tissue, e.g. in the lower limbs: fovea sign
collected in cavities, e.g. in the abdomen: ascites (fovea sign)
to get an indication of the temperature of a body district (e.g. an inflamed joint)
evaluation of the state of hydration
study of sensitivity and evocation of reflexes
foreign bodies