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OBJECTIVES
After completion of this chapter, the physical therapist should be able to do the following:
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PURPOSE OF A SCAN EXAMINATION
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Everyone has a concept in their mind about scanning a given situation. When driving and intersections are encountered, a system is employed that examines what is occurring off in the distance, as well as any potential issues that might be coming from the right and left. Attention is also paid to the existence of signs or traffic lights, any obstacles like parked cars or debris in the roadway, and anything out of the ordinary that could signal high risk, such as children playing with a ball. Additionally, in the back of the driver’s mind, factors such as the amount of light available because of the time of day, the condition of the road, weather conditions, and the type of vehicle being driven are all factored into the mix. With this information, the driver can successfully scan the intersection and make all needed adjustments to either stop and respond to a potential emergency or pass through this point in space.
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The two most important elements that allow the scan described above to work time after time are the employment of a system and experience. When starting to drive, most individuals learn the rules of the road and know to obey traffic lights. When a light turns green, movement into the intersection is started, and, on a rare occasion, the car is broadsided. This accident occurs because most new drivers are operating on a very limited system and fail to ensure that other vehicles approaching the intersection are complying with the rules of the road and not trying to push that yellow–red light they have encountered. The development of a system adequate enough to avoid this collision comes with ...