How should you assess sensation in the extremities?

Assessing sensation in the extremities primarily involves checking the patient's ability to feel touch. This is crucial because it helps determine the function of the sensory nerves in the limbs. By lightly touching the skin and asking the patient to report whether they feel the sensation, you can identify any potential nerve damage or impairments in sensation.

In this method, the healthcare provider often uses a soft object (like a cotton ball) or their fingers to ensure a thorough assessment of feeling in various areas of the extremities. This identification of sensory deficits helps guide further examination or treatment for any underlying conditions.

Meanwhile, checking pulse rate, assessing the ability to see movement, or testing reflexes are important in their own contexts but do not specifically evaluate the sensory function of the nerves in the same direct manner. These other assessments might indicate circulatory status, visual coordination, or neural responsiveness but wouldn't provide the same insights into sensory perception as direct touch assessments do.