Pitfalls and challenges involved in the process of perception and interpretation of palpatory findings

Palpation is the cornerstone of osteopathic diagnosis and treatment and the major building block of clinical decision-making within osteopathy. It depends not only on the interpretation of palpatory sensations, but the perception process itself can be affected by many factors that mostly act on the subconscious of the palpating individual. Palpation is a complex process and influenced by previous experiences, the type of information to collect, as well as the context in which it takes place. Hence, the various influences that shape the perception and interpretation of palpatory findings may create challenges when treating a patient.