Proprioception – Physical Exam

Position sense (proprioception), another DCML sensory modality, is tested by holding the most distal joint of a digit by its sides and moving it slightly up or down. First, demonstrate the test with the patient watching so they understand what is wanted then perform the test with their eyes closed. The patient should be able to detect 1 degree of movement of a finger and 2-3 degrees of movement of a toe. If the patient can’t accurately detect the distal movement then progressively test a more proximal joint until they can identify the movement correctly.