Physical

The neck, shoulders, and upper limbs work together as a physiologic unit during movement of the upper extremity, thus a complete physical examination of the entire upper limb is recommended as part of the initial evaluation of any upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder, including CTS. However a more targeted physical exam will be presented here. Always remember to compare the left and right hands to identify any abnormalities as well as start proximally and work distally.

You should approach the examination of the hands in the following order,
  1. Inspection
  2. Palpation
  3. Motor
  4. Sensory
  5. Special tests
  6. Functional tests


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