Which best describes the Test and Measures section of the Physical Examination?

• A. Imaging interpretation only
• B. Hands-on procedures and tests to determine function and impairment
• C. Interviewing the patient about symptoms
• D. Developing the initial prognosis

Answer: (B)

Test and measures are the hands-on procedures used to quantify what a patient can and cannot do, identifying specific impairments and functional limitations. This includes assessing range of motion, muscle strength, sensation, reflexes, balance, gait, and functional performance tasks. These objective findings provide the data needed to plan treatment and monitor progress over time. Imaging interpretation isn’t part of this section because it involves evaluating scans rather than performing physical tests. Interviewing the patient is the subjective history component, and prognosis formation relates to predicting outcomes and guiding the overall plan of care, informed by the data gathered from the tests and measures.