Physical Exam: How to Assess Someone in Pain

Steven P. Stanos, DO

Medical Director
Center for Pain Management
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Comprehensive assessment of a patient presenting with pain begins with taking a thorough medical history and physical examination, which in turn, informs appropriate laboratory testing, imaging, and potential treatment approaches. The physical examination is predicated on good communication with the patient. Essential components of a thorough physical examination include, but are not limited to, evaluation of pain behavior, gait impairment, range of motion, motor strength, muscle stretch reflexes, and dural tension. Observation for abnormal posture, sacroiliac joint testing, and myofascial assessment may also provide essential diagnostic information.

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