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Palpation

Authoring team

When examining the foot, palpation is first carried out when the patient is sitting. Feel for:

  • tenderness
    • diffuse or localised
    • heel tenderness: Sever's disease, calcaneal exostosis, plantar fasciitis, pes cavus
    • forefoot tenderness: metarsalgia, pes cavus and planus, gout, RA, Freiberg's disease, March fracture
    • big toe tenderness: gout
  • temperature:
    • compare the temperature gradient between legs
    • determine if there is a temperature gradient along the leg
  • crepitus of joints
  • swelling
  • oedema
  • lumps
  • sensation: especially if the patient reports changes
  • pulses:
    • dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial
    • popliteal and femoral

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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