Observation is the first step of your physical examination. During observation you are trying to see any structural abnormalities that you can link to your patient’s complaints.
Landmarks: Frontal Plane (Front)
- Line from the tip of the nose to the manubrium of the sternum
- Level of the shoulders
- Angle of clavicles
- Nipples (in male subjects)
- Height of the iliac crest
- Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS)
- Spacing between trunk and arms
- Arm length differences: Height of finger tips
- Level of the tip of the patella
- Rotation of the patella (outward or inward position)
- Valgus or Varus positioning of the knees?
- Level of medial malleoli
Landmarks: Sagittal Plane
- Line of Appleton/Lateral plumb line: Line from the earlobe through the head of the humerus
- Head Position: Anterior or Posterior
- Shoulders: Pro- or retracted
- Cervical lordotic posture
- Thoracic kyphotic posture
- Lumbar lordotic posture
- Level between ASIS and Posterior Superior Iliac Spine (PSIS): Average 15°
- Hyperextension of the knees?
Landmarks: Frontal Plane (Back)
- Head: Rotating or leaning to one side?
- Scoliosis?
- Level of the acromia
- Level of the scapular spine (mostly at the height of Th3)
- Inferior angle of the scapula (mostly at height of Th8)
- Distance of the margo medialis of the scapula from the spine
- Gluteal fold
- Valgus or Varus positioning of the knees?
- Level of Malleoli: Number of toes next to the Achilles tendon to determine rotation
Not every abnormality is pathological, but can be a functional adaptation!
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR- |
| Magee et al. (2014) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
