REGULAR PHYSICAL

What is a regular physical exam?

A general physical exam is a general assessment of your overall state of wellbeing that includes:

• Vital signs:
  • Blood pressure
  • Breathing rate
  • Pulse rate
  • Temperature
  • Height and weight
• Vision acuity:
  • Testing the sharpness or clarity of vision from a distance
• Head, eyes, ears, nose and throat exam
  • Inspection, palpation, and testing, as appropriate
• Gastrointestinal examination:
  • May include any of inspection, auscultation (listening for bowel sounds)
  • Percussion (a special tapping technique to deduce any tenderness)
  • Palpation (a touching technique using the clinician’s hand on the relevant body part, in this case, abdomen, to observe any muscle guarding, rigidity, or tenderness
• Cardiovascular evaluation:
  • General appearance
  • Inspection of eyes (retinal arteries) and heartbeat,
  • Blood laboratory tests
  • When required by regulations, an electrocardiogram
• Respiratory assessment:
  • Respiratory rate
  • Observation of skin appearance
  • Breathing sounds and postures
  • Employees at workplaces required to have a respiratory protection program may also undergo respirator medical evaluation for respirator use.
• Musculoskeletal assessment:
  • Muscles, bones, and joints are assessed by functional grouping using techniques of inspection, palpation, and manipulation (applying pressure or movement) while the clinician observes responses and reactions.
• Neuro exam:
  • Observation and testing or observation alone of mental awareness, motor function and balance, sensory response, and nerves/reflexes
• Skin and lymph node check:
  • Skin tone/pallor and lymph nodes are inspected