Physical signs are the footprints of disease.
And like footprints, they yield important diagnostic clues to those who can recognize and interpret them. Most diagnoses are made as the patient recounts his history, and the rest when the physician performs the physical exam. The physical exam is a powerful tool. Not only does it clinch diagnoses, but it also lays the foundation for the special bond between doctors and patients. It takes practice to understand the significance of seemingly minor details, like a shaky hand or a diverted gaze.