Review of Systems and Constitutional Signs is typically included in which component of the patient evaluation?

Study for the Teaching + Learning (T+L) and Fundamentals of Physical Therapy (PT) Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

The main concept here is that Review of Systems and constitutional signs are gathered during the History portion of the patient evaluation. The History collects the patient’s own reports about symptoms, medical history, medications, and general health. The Review of Systems systematically probes for symptoms across different body systems (for example, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, etc.). Constitutional signs like fever, weight loss, and malaise are general health indicators that influence safety and decision-making for PT care. These elements help identify red flags or conditions that may require medical referral before proceeding with treatment. They are not part of the hands-on Examination content, which focuses on tests and measures; nor are they part of Chart Review (which relies on existing records) or Initial Inspection (which is general observation).