PART is used to assess a patient in clinic. What four components does PART stand for?

• A. Pain, Asymmetry, Range of Motion, Tissue Tenderness
• B. Pain, Alignment, Range of Motion, Tissue Tenderness
• C. Pain, Asymmetry, Flexion, Tissue Tenderness
• D. Pain, Asymmetry, Range of Motion, Tissue Swelling

Answer: (A)

PART is a quick musculoskeletal screening focused on four elements. Pain involves noting if discomfort is present, where it is, how intense it is, and its quality. Asymmetry means comparing one side of the body or joint to the other to spot differences that suggest injury or dysfunction. Range of Motion checks how far a joint can move through its normal arc, often comparing active movement with passive movement to uncover stiffness, limitation, or abnormal motion. Tissue Tenderness involves palpating to localize tender areas, which helps point to the affected tissues or structures.

This combination gives a concise blend of subjective symptoms (pain) and objective signs (asymmetry, ROM, tenderness) to flag potential issues quickly and guide further exam or testing. Other features like alignment or swelling aren’t part of the PART acronym, and focusing on a single element like flexion wouldn’t capture the full, efficient screening that PART provides.