A physical exam, or a physical, is a routine test wherein a healthcare professional inspects, feels, or listens to different parts a person’s body. Other names for a physical include a complete physical exam, a routine physical, and a checkup.
A doctor or nurse may recommend a physical to:
- check for possible diseases or medical conditions
- check for medical issues that may become a problem later on
- keep track of any changes in a person’s physical health
- determine whether a person needs further tests
In this article, we discuss what to expect during a routine physical exam. We also cover some specific types of physical exam.
What to expect
Healthcare professionals typically carry out a physical exam in their office or in a dedicated room in a medical clinic or hospital.
It is important for the doctor or nurse to make sure that a person feels comfortable during a physical exam. The American Medical AssociationTrusted Source require clinics to provide a chaperone on request and to allow people to bring a friend or relative into the examination room with them.
Usually, the healthcare professional will also take a medical history before moving onto the physical exam. A medical history is a record of the person’s current symptoms as well as any risk factors and previous medical issues that might be relevant.
The doctor or nurse may ask about:
- past and current diseases or medical conditions
- previous operations or medical procedures
- past immunizations
- any medicines, vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies that the person is currently taking
- current signs and symptoms
- lifestyle information, such as diet and exercise habits, the use of tobacco and alcohol, and sexual and reproductive history
- family history of health conditions or diseases
Exactly what the physical examination entails will depend on the reason for the test, but in general it can include:
- height and weight measurements
- nose, mouth, throat, and ear examination with a torch or scope
- feeling for the pulse in the person’s neck, groin, or feet
- checking the body’s reflexes
- listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope
- measuring blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer
- feeling the lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, or groin
- feeling the abdomen to check for abnormalities
For babies and young children, a physical exam may include:
- asking questions about their development and growth
- measuring the circumference of their head
- checking their fine motor development, such as by asking them to pick up small items or tie their shoelaces
- checking their gross motor development, which can include asking them to walk, climb stairs, or jump
- looking in the mouth, eyes, and ears
- listening to the chest
- checking the health of the genitals
- tapping on the knees to check reflexes
- examining the feet
Sometimes, people undergo physical examinations to check for a particular issue or health condition. In these cases, the healthcare professional may carry out specific tests in addition to or instead of those above. We discuss some of these specific tests below.