Exam

Low Back Exam

search

Low Back Exam, Low Back Assessment, Low Back Pain Exam

  • See Also
  1. Low Back Pain
  2. Lumbar Spine Anatomy
  3. Low Back Pain History
  4. Low Back Pain Red Flags
  5. Low Back Exam
  6. Differential Diagnosis of Low Back Pain
  7. Rheumatologic Conditions affecting the Low Back
  8. Low Back Pain in Children
  9. Low Back Pain in Teen Athletes
  • Precaution
  1. Back should be exposed (e.g. in gown) to allow for adequate palpation and visualization
  • Exam
  • Approach
  1. Standing Low Back Exam
  2. Sitting Low Back Exam
  3. Supine Low Back Exam
  4. Neurologic Exam
    1. Sensory Exam
    2. Reflex Exam
    3. Motor Exam
    4. Clonus (suggests Upper Motor Neuron involvement)
  • Exam
  • Other findings
  1. Gastrointestinal findings
    1. Epigastric or right upper quadrant tenderness
      1. Peptic Ulcer Disease
      2. Pancreatitis
      3. Cholecystitis
    2. Flank Pain
      1. Nephrolithiasis
    3. Midline pulsatile mass
      1. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
    4. Decreased Rectal Tone or decreased perineal Sensation
      1. Cauda Equina Syndrome
  2. Genitourinary findings
    1. Adnexal tenderness or cervical motion tenderness
      1. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
    2. Prostate tenderness and swelling
      1. Prostatitis
    3. Urinary Retention (with significant post-void residual)
      1. Cauda Equina Syndrome
  3. Vascular findings
    1. Varicosities of lower extremities
    2. Diminished peripheral pulses
      1. Peripheral Arterial Disease (Claudication)
  4. Skin Findings
    1. Cafe-Au-Lait Spots
    2. Cutaneous Signs of Dysraphism (e.g. midline hairy patches)
    3. Lipomata
    4. Pilonidal Cyst
    5. Perirectal Abscess
  • Diagnostics
  1. See Low Back Imaging