How to examine a patient of MSK disorder?
The joints are examined simply by—’look, feel and move’.
Inspection:
• Number of joint or joints involved
• Attitude of the limb, swelling, deformity
• Signs of inflmmation over joints
• Muscle wasting, skin changes
Palpation:
• Corroboration of the findings of inspection
• Temperature, tenderness and swelling of the joints
• Muscle power testing
Movements (passive and active both):
• Pain on movement; any grating sensation?
• Restricted movement or increased mobility (e.g., hypermobile joint)
• Any muscular spasm?
Measurements:
• Any shortening of limb
• Thoracic and lumbar ankylosis (e.g., in ankylosing spondylitis)
• Measure joint movement by goniometer
Examination of spine (e.g., tenderness, kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis)
Examination of gait
Systemic examination—fever, anaemia, hepatosplenomegaly, pleurisy, pericarditis,
lymphadenopathy, etc.
The joints are examined simply by—’look, feel and move’.
Inspection:
• Number of joint or joints involved
• Attitude of the limb, swelling, deformity
• Signs of inflmmation over joints
• Muscle wasting, skin changes
Palpation:
• Corroboration of the findings of inspection
• Temperature, tenderness and swelling of the joints
• Muscle power testing
Movements (passive and active both):
• Pain on movement; any grating sensation?
• Restricted movement or increased mobility (e.g., hypermobile joint)
• Any muscular spasm?
Measurements:
• Any shortening of limb
• Thoracic and lumbar ankylosis (e.g., in ankylosing spondylitis)
• Measure joint movement by goniometer
Examination of spine (e.g., tenderness, kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis)
Examination of gait
Systemic examination—fever, anaemia, hepatosplenomegaly, pleurisy, pericarditis,
lymphadenopathy, etc.