Although physical touch is associated with the healing process in medicine for trauma survivors or individuals that don’t like touch, it can be hard during physical examination. Interestingly, therapeutic touch seems to be falling out of practice, with providers tapping at electronic medical records during visits and tools such as echocardiograms and CT scans.
Touch therapy is important during physical exams
Touching is an important aspect of the assessment of a patient. During physical examinations, doctors use touch to reassure patients and look for signs of potential abnormalities, such as a mass that might be cancerous or a sore upper right stomach. They might put a hand on the back and listen to the heart to hear any murmurs. Nerves are tested by tapping the knee using a reflex hammer. Without a physical examination, overlooking hints regarding the underlying medical condition would often be simple.
Even though many patients claim that a physician’s touch reassures them, some types of touching are more sensitive than others. For example, the doctor might advise examining private parts, such as the breast or the rectal region, when you have specific health concerns. Some patients could be upset when doctors skip parts of a clinical assessment and feel something crucial might have been missed. Others could experience relief.
Trauma victims may not be receptive to touch
Other people may not like touch during visits, with some feeling uncomfortable with the invasion of their privacy or fee unease depending on the gender of the doctor. For instance, trauma survivors, especially of sexual assault, may feel more anxious and are unlikely to make medical visits. Notably, a pelvic exam may be unbearable for some individuals. An uncomfortable visit to the practitioner may turn the individual away from the healthcare system.
It is important to note that physical exams are important in making a diagnosis. While some individuals may reject a physical exam, a physician will devise ways to make the experience comfortable to ensure the patient is getting the best care.
