Final answer:
Patient complaints play a role in the physical exam as they provide valuable information about the patient's condition and guide further diagnostic tests and treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a physical exam, it is important for a doctor to gather information about a patient's medical condition. While patient complaints are subjective symptoms and cannot be clinically confirmed, they provide valuable insight into the patient's condition. For example, a patient reporting pins and needles sensation in their left arm and leg and difficulty feeling touch on those limbs suggests a sensory problem in the spinal cord and brain.
By including patient complaints in the physical exam, doctors can use the information to guide further diagnostic tests and develop an appropriate treatment plan.