Document Owner: Clinical Skills/LK
Last Updated: May 2018
Clinical Examination Guide
Gait and Coordination
Components of examination
• Introduction
• General inspection and stability
• Standing-Walking
• Other cerebellar tests
• Upper limb – tone, reflexes, coordination
• Lower Limb – tone, clonus, reflexes, coordination
Look out for the following cerebellar signs in the examination sequence (DANISH):
• Dysdiadochokinesis
• Ataxia
• Nystagmus
• Intention tremor
• Scanning dysarthria
• Heel-shin test positivity
Introduction
• Introduce yourself, confirm patient ID
• Explain examination and gain consent. Ask about any pain. Ask patient to sit at edge of the bed
• Gel hands
General inspection and stability
• Look for truncal stability as the patient sits on edge of the bed.
• Assess proximal weakness by asking patient to cross arms over their chest and rise to standing (without use of
arms)
