The Art and Science of the Physical Exam: Why It Still Matters

“It’s not just what the tests say — it’s what your body says when we listen with trained eyes and hands.”

I’ll be honest with you — there was a time when I was just like everyone else in my field: adjust, rub, hope, repeat.We called it “pop and pray” or “rub and hope.” Do the adjustment, cross your fingers, and hope it worked.

But then… I learned a better way.A way that changed me — and my practice — forever.

🔷 The Day Everything Changed

Once I saw what was possible — what you can show a client in real time — I couldn’t go back.

I remember the first time I demonstrated a functional change right there, on the table, and saw the look in my patient’s eyes. You know the look: “Wait… you just fixed something I didn’t even know could change that fast?”

That was it for me. No more guessing. No more “adjust and see what happens.”I wanted to actually know what I was doing — and prove it to my patient then and there.

That’s when I leaned fully into the art and science of the physical exam.That’s when I started using lab tests not as a replacement for clinical skill, but as confirmation. And more importantly — as an educational tool for the patient to see what I already saw in my exam.

🧬 Why the Exam Still Matters

We live in a world of rushed care. If you’re lucky, a provider might order labs or imaging, skim the results, and prescribe.

But here’s the thing: your body already knows what’s wrong. It tells the story — if someone’s willing to listen with trained hands.

The work of Dr. George Goodheart, DC, and the pioneering research of Kendall & Kendall at Johns Hopkins on manual muscle testing taught me that the nervous system never lies.

It’s elegant. It’s subtle. And it works.

🖐️ Why Most Docs Skip It — and Why I Don’t

Why do most doctors skip a real exam?Because it’s time-consuming. It’s nuanced. And frankly — it requires skill.

At Fuller Health Group, I don’t skip it.I use my hands, my eyes, and my clinical mind to find what labs can only confirm later. And I show you, in real time, what your body is capable of when it’s unstuck.

🔷 Why It Matters for You

When you walk out of my office, you’ll know two things:✅ We’re not guessing.✅ Your body can change — and you felt it already.

That’s why I’ll never go back. The art of the physical exam is alive and well here, and it’s the foundation of everything I do.

📩 Ready for a Real Evaluation?

If you’re tired of rushed care and guessing games, let me show you what’s possible when someone actually listens to your body.

👉 Schedule your thorough evaluation here at www.fullerhealthgroup.com - 630-235-7055 — and see (and feel) the difference.