Proper Position in Thyroid Exam: No Stretch for Patients

Article

When you start to examine the thyroid, patients frequently react instinctively by raising their head, thereby stretching the neck. Actually, such a reaction impedes precise palpation of the gland. Tell patients to keep their neck flexed forward, so as to ensure that the infrahyoid muscles of the neck are relaxed.

When you start to examine the thyroid, patients frequently react instinctively by raising their head, thereby stretching the neck. Actually, such a reaction impedes precise palpation of the gland. Tell patients to keep their neck flexed forward, so as to ensure that the infrahyoid muscles of the neck are relaxed.

     -- Mohammed M. Basha, MD
             Gainesville, Fla

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