MSK Examination

Question 1

how do you explain the exam?

Answer 1

will involve having a look, feel and move of limbs/neck and back. I’ll ask you to move them and then if you could relax and let me move them for you
are you in any pain?
nothing should be painful but if it is please let me know and we can stop

Question 2

what are you inspecting for?

Answer 2

swelling
deformity
skin changes
adjacent structures

Question 3

what are you palpating for?

Answer 3

swelling and its nature
tenderness
temperature
crepitus during movements

Question 4

what movements need to be done?

Answer 4

active and passive for limb joints

just active for spine

Question 5

how do you examine the wrist and hand joints?

Answer 5

test grip strength
finger movements
wrist movements

Question 6

how do you examine the elbow?

Answer 6

tenderness over the epicondyle

flexion extension pronation supination

Question 7

how do you examine the shoulder?

Answer 7

sternoclavicular, acromiclavicular, glenohumeral, scapula
flexion
extension
abduction
abduction
adduction
internal and external rotation

Question 8

how do you examine the spine?

Answer 8

cervical spine movements
- flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation
palpation of c spine to t1
kyphosis and lordosis - ideally in underwear
scoliosis
thoracic movement - rotation
lumbar movement - flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotate

Question 9

how do you examine the hip?

Answer 9

palpate - just distal to mid inguinal
flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation
trendelenberg test - stand on one leg
measure leg length - asis to med malleolus (true), belly button to med malleolus (apparent)

Question 10

how do you examine the knee?

Answer 10

flexion and extension
medial and lateral ligaments
- 20degree flexion
- slight lateral movements - give it a wiggle
anterior and posterior ligaments
- 90degree flexion
- foot fixed
- anterior and posterior movements - drawer
anterior cruciate
- lachman
- 20degrees flexion
- pull tibia out and forwards

Question 11

how do you examine the ankle and foot?

Answer 11

dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, inversion and eversion, toe movements

Question 12

what are the features of joint disease?

Answer 12

stiffness - check
loss of function
joint instability
locking/loose bodies - check
clicks and clunks - check
grating - check

oh golly I think I have knee disease

Question 13

what are common muscle symptoms?

Answer 13

pain
stiffness
weakness
fasciculation
cramps