Percussion of the Posterior Lungs

POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1. Press middle finger of nondominant hand firmly over the area. Make sure that the rest of the fingers and palm are raised to avoid contact with the skin. Reason: pressure from other fingers and palm on adjacent surface muffle the sound
2. Strike with the middle finger of the dominant hand (with the tip of that finger NOT the pad of finger). Strike right under nail (not on the nail).
3. Use a sharp, crisp, rapid movement from the wrist.  Wrist must be relaxed.  
4. Percuss in a systematic manner, from side to side from apex of lungs to base, listening to changes in tone from one area to another. Percuss two to three times at each site.
5. Percussion note over normal lung fields is Resonance (loud intensity, low pitch, hollow sound).

Click on the link below to watch a flash movie on percussion of the posterior lungs by noting the sequence that should be used