25/08/2026
Palpation is there to help!
Use it to gather information, but not to jump straight to a conclusion.
Be clear about what you’re checking for. Are you noticing differences in tissue tone, tenderness, texture or temperature? Compare what you find with the surrounding area or the opposite side. What feels different, and does it match what you’ve already found elsewhere in your assessment?
Keep talking to your client as you go. Ask what they’re feeling, where they feel it and whether anything feels different from side to side. Their answers and their body language give you another part of the picture.
Then bring everything together. Your consultation, postural assessment, ROM testing, functional assessments and palpation should all support one another. One finding on its own rarely tells you enough.
The aim is to build a clearer picture of what may be contributing to the client’s problem, record your findings properly, and use the evidence to help decide your treatment priorities and next steps.
