EXAMINATION OF THE UPPER LIMB AREA USING THE SURFACE ANATOMY METHOD DURING TRAINING OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS

The superficial anatomy of the human body during life occupies an honorable place in the training of specialists in physical therapy and rehabilitation [1,2,3].Injury to the limb, as the least protected anatomical area, accounts for up to 70% of all injuries during military conflicts [4,5,6].Currently, a comparison of assessment scales for the function of the elbow joint has been carried out, which are combined according to 2 parameters: assessment of function by motor tests and determination of the degree of pain syndrome [7,8].Today, when the number of patients with upper limb (UL) injuries is constantly increasing, as a result of martial law in Ukraine, and military personnel with UL injuries [7,8,9], there is an urgent need to supplement the academic disciplines of human anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (MSS) with elements of surface anatomy, with a consistent definition of bone landmarks, criteria for palpation of joints, and an algorithm for their examination.The aim of the study.To study the basic principles of vital surface anatomy when examining the upper limb of a person and the algorithm for palpating joints in practical classes with students studying in the specialty 227 -"Therapy and Rehabilitation", specialization 227.1 -"Physical Therapy", which belong to the field of knowledge 22 -"Health Care". Object and research methods.Two groups of students, totaling 30 people, studying in specialty 227 -"Therapy and Rehabilitation", were involved in a sequential manual examination of the shoulder girdle and free upper limb.The conducted manual and descriptive study of the surface anatomy of the upper limb was based on self-examination and mutual examination of students in two positions: standing and sitting according to the method [1,2].At the beginning of the practical session, students repeat on the human skeleton the bone landmarks of the upper limb and the main elements of the elbow joint with an emphasis on mandatory compliance with the standards of international medical and anatomical terminology and its Ukrainian analogue [10,11].At the next stage, students begin the technique of palpating the elbow joint and studying movements in it, which allows them to assess superficial anatomical structures, possible soreness, swelling, deformation, and functional changes.Research results and their discussion.Palpation of bones and joints is an important part of the physical examination in general medicine, orthopedics, rheumatology, physical therapy and rehabilitation.Students visually and palpatingly examine the bony landmarks of their body during a practical session.This helps to eliminate a certain gap in the transition from studying MSS using bone preparations in the first year of study to examining the patient in the future.