Standing, sitting, lying supine or prone
If you wish to palpate on the skin, provide a private room for assessment. The patient is asked if he/she is willing to lower his/her pants a few inches. While the skin can not be viewed with clothes covering the area, the structure usually can be palpated over clothing.
Anterior and/or posterior to the patient.
The posture of your body can be evaluated more accurately if you lower your pants a few inches (and demonstrate the level). Would you feel comfortable doing this? (If standing), please take about 10 steps in place and then stand as you usually stand. (If sitting), sit as you usually do. Please place your hands on opposite shoulders or across your chest (or demonstrate). May I touch the top of your hip bones? ( or point to the demonstrated area ).
Guide the patient to drape and then to take steps in place if standing or sit in the usual posture if sitting. Place the patientÃs hands out of the way and on the opposite shoulder or across the chest. Place your hand held flat and level to the floor on the top of each pelvis.
If palpation is used to assess lower limb length, compare height of hand levels as this assessment is performed from a view anterior to the pelvis and from a view posterior to the pelvis. Hold the flat hand parallel to the floor and palpate the same aspect of each iliac crest. Sight the iliac crests at eye level.
If palpation is used to assess lower limb length, compare height of hand levels as this assessment is performed from a view anterior to the pelvis and from a view posterior to the pelvis. Hold the flat hand parallel to the floor and palpate the same aspect of each iliac crest. Sight the iliac crests at eye level.
VH - iliac crests